Nepal will play at least four three-day international cricket matches next year under the Fast Track Nations’ Tournament, which will also serve as Asian selection tournament for ICC Intercontinental Cup 2006.
The two-day Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting last week, attend by Jai Kumar Nath Shah, president of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), finalized the tie-sheet of the Fast Track Nations’ to be participated by five countries of Asia – Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
According to the schedule, Nepal and Singapore will play the curtain-raiser during April 22-24 with UAE and Hong Kong facing each other the same date. Nepal will meet Hong Kong during 30 April – 2 May before taking UAE. The last match for Nepal would be against Malaysia on October.
Among the matches, UAE vs Hong Kong, Nepal vs Hong Kong and Nepal vs UAE will be the Asian qualifier for the ICC Intercontinental Cup. Nepal will play both matches at home in Kathmandu. The top among three will reach the semifinal to be played in Namibia in October. UAE qualified last year.
Fast Track Nations’ Tournament 2005
Fixture
Date Countries
22-24 April Singapore vs Nepal
UAE vs Hong Kong*
30 April- 2 May Nepal vs Hong Kong*
8-9 May Nepal vs UAE*
29-31 July Malaysia vs Hong Kong
7-9 August Singapore vs Malaysia
26-28 August Malaysia vs UAE (tbc)
7-9 October Singapore vs Hong Kong
14-16 October Malaysia vs Nepal
25-27 Novermber Singapore vs UAE
* – InterContinental Cup matches