ICC /Cricnepal – Italy, Nepal and Uganda are arriving in Bermuda for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3, the latest step on the road to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.
They are three of six teams that will come together this weekend (28 April) to compete for the chance to lift the WCL Division 3 trophy and get closer to ICC’s flagship global event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
The top two sides of the WCL Division 3 will progress to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, which will be held in New Zealand in 2014 and feature 10 of the leading Associate and Affiliate teams. The top two sides from the New Zealand event will then advance to the 14-team ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, where they will join the 10 Full Members.
Nepal captain Paras Khadka, who has represented Nepal in three ICC U19 World Cups – 2004, 2006 and 2008 – says his team dreams of qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup.
“We know that opponents will challenge us in every department of the game as all the teams in Bermuda will be competitive. Knowing the fact that it could take us to the pathway to glory, we are taking this very seriously and will give all we have to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
“We are really looking forward for the tournament and are preparing ourselves in the best possible manner with the available resources. Each and every player in the team has come through the domestic system and we have devoted lots of time and effort to climb the ICC rankings; certainly, playing in an ICC Cricket World Cup is our greatest and only dream,” said the all-rounder.
Having won promotion to WCL Division 3 after winning WCL Division 4 undefeated in 2012, Khadka is confident of his side’s capabilities. “We believe that we are good enough to be in the top six Associate countries. So we will push ourselves to the maximum to reach to main qualifier,” he concluded.
On Sunday 28 April, Nepal will face USA at Somerset CC. Italy will face Oman at St. David’s & Uganda will lock horns with host Bermuda at the National Sports Stadium
The fixtures for WCL Division 3 are as follows:
27 Apr – Practice
28 Apr – Bermuda v Uganda, National Sports Stadium; Italy v Oman, St. David’s; Nepal v USA, Somerset CC
29 Apr – Italy v USA, National Sports Stadium; Bermuda v Oman, St. David’s; Nepal v Uganda, Somerset CC
30 Apr – Rest/Reserve Day
1 May – Uganda v Italy, National Sports Stadium; Bermuda v Nepal, St. David’s; Oman v USA, Somerset CC
2 May – Nepal v Oman, National Sports Stadium; USA v Uganda, St. David’s; Bermuda v Italy, Somerset CC
3 May – Rest/Reserve Day
4 May – Bermuda v USA, National Sports Stadium; Nepal v Italy, St. David’s; Uganda v Oman, Somerset CC
5 May – Final, National Sports Stadium; 3rd v 4th Play-off, St. David’s; 5th v 6th Play-off, Somerset CC
All matches are scheduled to start at 19:30 NST
