ICC looks forward to exciting month of cricket in UAE

Supported by the ICC’s Development department, the teams will compete in a range of different formats, including T20, 50-over, two, three and four-day matches, as teams bid to progress in the ICC Intercontinental Cup (I-Cup) and the World Cricket League Championship (WCLC). 
Some countries will also be preparing for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, while others will play some “friendlies” against Pakistan and England who will be stepping up their preparations in the shorter formats of the game following the completion of the three-Test series in Sharjah (1-5 November).

Looking ahead to the series of matches, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “November promises to be an exciting month for cricket followers across the UAE. The matches to be played involving our top Associate Members are part of ICC’s commitment to developing more competitive teams at the highest level. The Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League Championship are the pathways for Associate Members to Test cricket and the ICC Cricket World Cup respectively,” Richardson said.

“In addition the T20 matches will provide important preparation for the teams who have qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016. With Pakistan and England competing in a keenly-contested series, we are delighted that Pakistan will face Nepal and Hong Kong, while Hong Kong and UAE will play against England, in some warm-up games.”

UAE Coach Aqib Javed is excited with the prospect of competing across multi-formats this month. The former Pakistan bowler, who was part of the squad which lifted ICC Cricket World Cup 1992, believes that the squad is in good shape ahead of the month’s games.

“November presents a great opportunity for UAE cricket,” Aqib reflected ahead of the month’s fixtures. “After a tough few weeks in the UK and Ireland in the last round of the I-Cup and WCLC, we feel as though we’re moving in the right direction. We have full-time contracts in place for the first time and a full-time selection panel. And the chance to play a two-day match against Pakistan is a brilliant opportunity."

“There’s Hong Kong in the I-Cup, then the two WCLC games before a big one against England. We have mixed up the squad and there are four or five new guys, including a 16-year-old fast bowler called Yodhin Punja who is very promising. We know that we have to support our youngsters and we can experiment a bit and hopefully get some wins along the way. It’s a great time for UAE cricket and there’s a lot to be excited about,” Javed said.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, whose side will face Nepal in a 50-over clash in Abu Dhabi on 8 November and Hong Kong in a 20-over tie at the ICC Academy on 23 November, believes these are an important couple of games.

“It is clear to see the great strides that are being made among the emerging teams in world cricket,” the Pakistan coach said.

“We are excited to face Nepal and Hong Kong as they are relatively new opponents, but we know that they have a lot of quality individually and collectively. Both games will also present us with opportunities to adapt to the shorter formats of the game coming off the back of a challenging Test series against England. We are also mindful that the Hong Kong game especially will provide great opportunities to our players with the ICC World Twenty20 2016 now just a few short months away."

“Pakistan understands and embraces its responsibility to assist developing nations and we are excited by the opportunity to do so in the UAE this month.”

Live Streaming:

There will be live streaming from the ICC World Cricket League Championship matches between Nepal v PNG from Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi on www.icc-cricket.com

Live Scoring:

Live scoring will be available for all matches on www.icc-cricket.com and there will also be match reports from each of the ICC Intercontinental Cup / World Cricket League Championship matches.

Fixtures:

Thursday 5 November
Day 1 of 2: Hong Kong v Nepal (Abu Dhabi Oval 1)

Friday 6 November
Day 2 of 2: Hong Kong v Nepal (Abu Dhabi Oval 1)

Saturday 7 November
Day 1 of 2: UAE v Oman (Ajman)

Sunday 8 November
Day 2 of 2: UAE v Oman (Ajman)
50 Over: England XI v Hong Kong (Abu Dhabi Oval 1), Pakistanis v Nepal (Abu Dhabi Oval 2)

Wednesday 11 November
1st ODI: Pakistan v England (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, d/n)
Intercontinental Cup (Day 1 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
50 Over: Nepal v Danube CC (ICC Academy 2)

Thursday 12 November
Intercontinental Cup (Day 2 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
50 Over: PNG v Oman (ICC Academy 2)

Friday 13 November
2nd ODI: Pakistan v England (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, d/n)
Intercontinental Cup (Day 3 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)

Saturday 14 November
Intercontinental Cup (Day 4 of 4): UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)
50 Over: Nepal v Oman (Abu Dhabi Oval 1), PNG v Danube CC (Abu Dhabi Oval 2)

Monday 16 November
Day 1 of 3: Afghanistan v Oman (Ajman)
World Cricket League Championship: Nepal v PNG (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi), UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)

Tuesday 17 November
3rd ODI: Pakistan v England (Sharjah, d/n)
Day 2 of 3: Afghanistan v Oman (Ajman)

Wednesday 18 November
Day 3 of 3: Afghanistan v Oman (Ajman)
World Cricket League Championship: UAE v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1), Nepal v PNG (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)

Friday 20 November
4th ODI: Pakistan v England (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, d/n)

Saturday 21 November
Intercontinental Cup (Day 1 of 4): Afghanistan v PNG (Sharjah)
T20I: Hong Kong v Oman (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)

Sunday 22 November
Intercontinental Cup (Day 2 of 4): Afghanistan v PNG (Sharjah)
T20I: UAE v Oman (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)

Monday 23 November
Intercontinental Cup (Day 3 of 4): Afghanistan v PNG (Sharjah)
T20: England XI v UAE (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, d/n), Pakistanis v Hong Kong (ICC Academy 1)

Tuesday 24 November
Intercontinental Cup (Day 4 of 4): Afghanistan v PNG (Sharjah)

Wednesday 25 November
T20I: Hong Kong v Oman (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)

Thursday 26 November
T20I: England v Pakistan (Dubai International Cricket Stadium), Hong Kong v Oman (Zayed Cricket Stadium)

Friday 27 November
T20I: England v Pakistan (Dubai International Cricket Stadium)

Saturday 28 November
T20I: Afghanistan v Hong Kong (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)

Sunday 29 November
T20I: Afghanistan v Oman (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)

Monday 30 November
T20I: England v Pakistan (Dubai International Cricket Stadium), Afghanistan v Oman (Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi)