Teams from five continents prepare to meet in Italy next month as the truly global nature of international cricket is illustrated once again with the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4 (WCL Div. 4).
Teams from Nepal, USA, Italy, Cayman Islands, Argentina and Tanzania will converge on Bologna to compete in the fourth step of the World Cricket League as they push ultimately towards inclusion in the next ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier (CWCQ) which is scheduled for 2013.
The top four finishers of the ICC CWCQ 2013 win themselves a place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to be staged in Australia and New Zealand.
The top two sides at WCL Div. 4, which will be played from 14 to 21 August in Bologna, will win promotion to the WCL Div. 3 to be staged in Hong Kong in January 2011.
The sides are to be hosted on three grounds for the tournament – Pianora, Medicina and Bologna.
The full schedule for WCL Div. 4 is as follows:
12 August – Team arrivals
13 August – Practice
14 August – USA v Nepal (Pianora); Italy v Cayman Islands (Medicina); Tanzania v Argentina (Bologna)
15 August – Italy v Nepal (Pianora); Argentina v Cayman Islands (Medicina); USA v Tanzania (Bologna)
16 August – Rest/Reserve Day
17 August – Italy v Argentina (Pianora); Nepal v Tanzania (Medicina); USA v Cayman Islands (Bologna)
18 August – Cayman Islands v Tanzania (Pianora); Italy v USA (Medicina); Nepal v Argentina (Bologna)
19 August – Rest/Reserve Day
20 August – USA v Argentina (Pianora); Cayman Islands v Nepal (Medicina); Tanzania v Italy (Bologna)
21 August – Final (Pianora); third/fourth play-off (Medicina); fifth/sixth play-off (Bologna)
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They are taking advantage of the scheduling – pitting Nepal against USA and Italy in the first 2 matches before Nepal get acclimatised, On a positive note Nepal won’t have to deal with any pressure of nerves during the latter part of the tournament.
i think they pick teams on a lottery basis. like pulling out a piece of paper from a hat.
Exciting times! I wish the Nepalese team all the best, good luck!
Cheers,
Wes
Hey Wes,
Thanks for the gd luck.
Quite banterful blog…and OMG the German ODI kit..I shud get one when I next visit Bremen.
Hello Noire, it’s all just friendly banter, I love cricket too much sometimes
Enjoy your stay in Bremen, not sure though if you can actually buy the kit somewhere, most likely not…
Cheers,
Wes
all the best team nepal
its a big challenge for our national team to face USA and ITALY in the 1st n 2nd game continuously. If Nepal lost with them in the beginning then our team might be in pressured condition. So all of the Nepalese players must gather hope and confidence before the match starts……for that i think our team must play practice matches with other teams. Actually its totally unknown that how is going our national team’s practice session……….. hope they are doing their best with their team mates. Wish u all the best to all nepalese players………GUD LUCK
a real nepali
Finally, the schedule has come out for the WCL 4 in italy. But I feel that the acclimatization period available is too less provided for every other team. Ayway, hope for the best performance from Nepalese team. Good luck
I hope Nepal is well prepared and practiced hard for this tournament. Few months back when USA and NEPAL meet it seemed both team have equal strength.
How is ITALY ? Anyone know? Is it going to be 50 overs game?
GOOD LUCK TEAM NEPAL. Show your Nepali heart and win tournament.
No crowd support, completely different weather and conditions, unfamiliar astro turf and tough opponent USA in the opening match. I wonder how our players will take these challenges with rain disturbed training sessions and no practice matches at all.
Having played superbly and being the winners in the last edition of WCL DIV-5 in Kathmandu, Nepal looks the odds-on favourite to win this upcoming WCL DIV-4 as well and moving one step forward towards ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier scheduled for 2013. Though in One-Day cricket with its unexpected statistical permutations at certain times (The one, we witnessed during USA and Nepal league game in WCL DIV-5 played at Kathmandu, Nepal), it does bring about unimagined situations. However, despite this fact, a team has to be really on its toes at all times and be focussed towards the game and be aware of opposition’s strategies in the games. But one thing, I would like to point out is that our boys have not been in thick of actions for quite some time in competitive cricket games in recent times comparatively to other teams; who may have been playing regular and competitive cricket to be in tune for the upcoming WCL DIV-4. Except for the national 20Twenty Cricket and One-Day Cricket Tournaments held recently in Kathmandu, national players have not got enough opportunity to play competitive cricket. By saying so, what I am trying to emphasise is that if you want to be at the top, it is mandatory to be in tune with the game to excel at such tournaments. Since Nepal is drawn against USA in the opening game, Uncle Sam having lost the last encounter the final game against Nepal in WCL DIV-5, they will be willing to avenge the defeat and the start tournament in a great fashion and also to have an upper hand of psychological advantage for the rest of the games in the tournament. Normally, when a team wins its first encounter in any tournament that too against a good team, it really helps to pep up the confidence level of the players.
For Nepal, according to Cricket Association of Nepal, the team will leave early so that the players could get feel of the conditions and get acclimatised to it by playing some practice matches in Italy. That’s a great move, but it would have been better if a couple of friendly matches were organised with neighbouring countries’ club-level or state-level teams prior to team’s departure. But with the onset of monsoon, you may never say when one would get a weather-permitting day for the game…………
Any way, this tournament is very important and I hope our boys are mentally prepared and would acclimatise to the conditions and take up the gauntlet with impressive showing of high-level performances and bring home the laurels……
Winner never fears with opponents. Except Italia every nations are unfamiliar with its weather condition. The main focus is that how nepalese cricket team is preparing. When Nepal will take part in Test Playing nations Domestic League as Afgani are taking part and some others nations?
BEST OF LUCK
JAI NEPAL
Whatevrrrrr….. I wil coment after this tournament is 0ver
Best of luck guys…do ur best..
its first time nepal is going to play any vital tournament in astroturf so it will be totally new experience for nepalese player. the first two match against USA and Italy will decide nepal’s way to WCQ 2013. nepal should come with more allrounder rather than specific batsmen or bowler. i think Mehboob , manjit, paras and binod are key players for this tournament.
How are the conditions in Italy ???? Appaulling!! Pianoro ground has a 10 metre fence around it. Totally useless to watch cricket. Dressing sheds couldnt fit in 5 players. Very uncomrtable. Pitch is astro turf that seems around & has uneven bounce.
The other two grounds have never been heard of before. Medicina is two soccer grounds combined with 15 metre boundry down the ground. Astro turf has been laid on sand!! After World League astro turf will be ripped up & the ground will never be used for cricket again.
Bologna ground is another soccer field!!
Expect the worst & a disgrace such an important tournament is being held in a non cricket country like Italy.
Weather will be 35 degrees every day.
Will be remembered as the craziest con job of all time for any country that doesnt finish 1st or 2nd.
Are you sure PITCH is Astro Turf ? I thought only outfield is Astro Turf. Please, clarify?
I don’t think pitch is Turf. It should be regular pitch.
all the best. make a new history.
yeah, the pitch is astro- turf. i heard this kind of pitch is good for pace bowler. That’s why Can selected 5 pace bowler among 14 players.
wish u all the best for Nepali team……….come on Nepal u can win the title………………….
Wat d hel CAN is doing? Practice match ly srilanka n italy pathaune katha TANKA PANERU ly ni taha 6en!
No1 knows dat al 14 players wil get visa easily! Italy may do watevr they want!
Regarding history,NEPAL had played in astro turf in CANADA in 2001 ICC trophy,where they won against GIBRALTAR N GERMANY bt lost 2 NAMIBIA widout regular 4 topclas player n captain Viz RAJU KHADKA,BIRENDRA SAH,KUSH GURUNG N RAJ KR PRADHAN n even coach AFTAB BALOCH didn’t got visa!
Italy is not so strong team,in 2001 they didn’t playd in icc trophy despite havin d player who is brother of Michæl Bevan!
In 2005 in ICC TROPHY DIV 2 8 Malyasia,Nepal had won against ITALY where shakti made century,had also won against CAYMEN ISLAND bt lost 2 FIZI in semifinal by 3 runs!
Nepal wil badly mis DIPENDRA CHAUDHARY who had played in CANADA in ICC trophy 2001 n had scord half century!
Anyway al crickt fans must hv known past bt at presnt al 6 teams r strong. USA has just played American Divs 1 so they hv more match practice than Nepal. Tanzania hv started their camp 4 months back! But our CAN BUSINESMAN N POLITICIAN r just using CRIKET 4 FOREIGN TOUR!
Al d best 4 NEPALI RHINOS!
Bivek
Point taken!!
But italy will pick 14 players for this tournament. 12 of them where born & bred in South Africa & Australia. Those 12 have never stepped foot in italy except to qualify for 90 day rule under ICC regulations of qualifing to play for Italy. Its also worth noting that none of them have really been seen playing cricket in Italy, perhaps this is a ICC loop hole expoited by the Italians.
I feel its not a case of wickets & conditions or weather. Its who gets lucky & advances to division 3 after playing something that doesnt resemble a cricket ground!
Perhaps the teams that finish 5th & 6th should have boycotted this fiasco in bologna!!
Wait for the rumbles of disbelief once the teams arrive & see the shocking state of Italian cricket! Cricket on soccer grounds!!!
Its all their in your eyes, every Italian cricketer hasnt even been to italy even as a tourist. The ICC feel a deep sense of regret for this.
For Napel, bring your best team, bring spinners!! You cant play a cover drive on these wickets in Italy. 10 sharp overs of medium pace & than spin. Batsman have to go over the top & hit through the air. Impossible to play a classic knock & score runs cover driving!!
Antonio
Milan
@ Antonia: u know so much about state of cricket in italy. Are u a player? Thanks for disclosing the facts. We nepal fans were so much curious 2 know about the conditions there but now i m shocked. Cricket at this level under such conditions? Shame on ICC!
Nepal do have quality spinners and our captain uses them quite intelligently. But we don’t play in air and go over the top that often. Our batsmen mostly play classic cricket.
It will be disgusting if we can’t progress to div 3 coz we deserve that if miserable conditions there don’t swing it the other way.
Please share other informations as well.
@Antonio,
You sound quite bitter…and rightly so. Cricket can never be global if players from same 10/11 country represent associates and affiliates. I did read reports that ‘trainning for Italy is not going so well as MOST PLAYERS ARE NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTRY’.
Its high time that ICC grow a pair of balls and make correct decision even though it might have to start from scratch…o hang on, these are still the initiative phases!
Good luck Antonio for the upcoming tournament though.
Arun
Would love to see Napal & Italy progress. Im sure they will. Firstly i am a supporter of italian cricket, but unfortunately in 25 yrs they havent produced one ground! For this tournament they have created another 2 grounds on soccer pitches, so the 3 grounds that will be in use have close proximity!
Noire, i have no bitterness. Am just giving you the inside details on the grounds.
I just found it odd that questions where being asked about Italian cricket conditions!
Yes ive seen cricket played in Italy, on soccer grounds, baseball pitches & dirt parks. alas i havent played here myself. But 6 nations will by no fault of their own. White balls, rubber shoes, soccer grounds! I hope they have imported sight screens for this comp! Dont think they could, expect spray painted black sheets!
I am infact a former Test cricketer working in Italy & was confused by the ICC’s decision to fly teams into Italy ….Am i not misaken WCL Div 2 was played in a non cricket country in Malaysia on ICC international approved grounds! Why 5yrs later ask Italy to host a fiasco!
This is my last word,
best of luck nepali cricket team
best of luck
Good to hear that CAN had ordered astro turf with rubber shoes to play in astro turf from England and it will arrive by Wednesday but there is not certainity on Binaya Pandey’s words. Barks a lot and do little, Hope it will arrive on time and our boys can start practice soon.