In Focus – Cricket’s very own Euro Cup

  As many as 18 Associate nations are set to come together to compete in the ICC World Twenty20 Europe Qualifier, which will be played in the Netherlands from August 29 to September 2. The teams are divided into three groups of six each, with the top two from each group progressing to next year’s Europe Regional Final, thus getting a step closer towards qualification for the 2020 ICC World T20 in Australia.

Group A

  Fresh from their promotion-clinching second-place finish at the ICC World Cricket League Division Four in May, Denmark will look to continue in the same vein in the T20 format. Germany, the leading European side outside of the WCL tournaments, are expected to be the Danes’ sternest challengers. Austria and France can both be a threat on their day, while Portugal and Cyprus will aim to create an upset or two. 

The Teams

Austria
Cyprus
Denmark
France
Germany
Portugal

Key Matches

Austria v France, Deventer, August 29
Denmark v Germany, Utrecht, August 29
France v Germany, Utrecht, August 30

Key Players

Imran Asif, middle-order batsman and medium pacer (Austria)
Mangala Gunasekara, top-order batsman and medium pacer (Cyprus)
Freddie Klokker, opening batsman and wicketkeeper (Denmark)
Jean-Luc Lambourdiere, top-order batsman (France)
Daniel Weston, opening batsman and wicketkeeper (Germany)
Tariq Aziz, top-order batsman and off-spinner (Portugal)

Prediction: Denmark and Germany

Group B

  Jersey look well-shaped to reign in this group, what with their relative depth and experience. They warmed up with a 3-0 sweep of the Inter-Insular T20 series against arch-rivals Guernsey last week, and their 2015 World T20 Qualifier outing will hold them in good stead. Italy are likely to be their nearest competitors, but Belgium might just spring a surprise. Finland, Isle of Man and Spain round off the group.

       Germany’s Daniel Weston in action during his team’s win against France at the ICC WCL Europe Division One in 2017. The two teams will face off at Utrecht on August 30 (source – ICC)

The Teams

Belgium
Finland
Isle of Man
Italy
Jersey
Spain

Key Matches

Italy v Jersey, The Hague, August 29
Belgium v Italy, Schiedam, September 1
Belgium v Jersey, Schiedam, September 1

Key Players

Faisal Khaliq, middle-order batsman and medium pacer (Belgium)
Jonathan Scamans, opening batsman (Finland)
Adam McAuley, top-order batsman (Isle of Man)
Nicholas Maiolo, top-order batsman (Italy)
Ben Stevens, top-order batsman and left-arm spinner (Jersey)
Kuldeep Lal, spinner (Spain)

Prediction: Jersey and Italy

Group C

  A three-way battle can be expected between Guernsey, Norway and Sweden in this group. The potentially exciting Scandinavian duel between Norway and Sweden on the opening day might be crucial to how the respective teams’ fortunes shape up. At the same time, Gibraltar and Israel will not be there just to make up the numbers, while the Czech Republic would be looking to make the most of this chance.

The Teams

Czech Republic
Gibraltar
Guernsey
Israel
Norway
Sweden

Key Matches

Norway v Sweden, Schiedam, August 29
Guernsey v Sweden, Schiedam, September 1
Guernsey v Norway, The Hague, September 1

Key Players

Mikulas Stary, top-order batsman (Czech Republic)
Marc Bacarese, top-order batsman (Gibraltar)
David Hooper, medium pacer (Guernsey)
Josh Evans, middle-order batsman and leg-spinner (Israel)
Suhail Iftikhar, middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper (Norway)
Azam Mohammad, spinner (Sweden)

Prediction: Guernsey and Sweden