Namibia will feature in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 as a replacement of Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Nigeria will replace Zimbabwe in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.
In the last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) due to failing to conduct free and democratic elections and to administrate without the government interference.
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Recently, the ICC has given the ZC a deadline on 8th October 2019 to reinstate the elected Board of ZC unconditionally. If the ZC resolves this issue under the deadline period and provides satisfactory evidence to ensure their future run, the ICC can reconsider their suspension. On the other hand, the ZC can face the termination of the ICC membership if they fail to resolve these issues.
It means that Zimbabwe can’t cancel their ICC suspension before the middle of October 2019. In the meantime, the ICC suspended teams can’t participate in the ICC events.
Scotland will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 from 31st August to 7th September 2019. Meanwhile, the UAE will organise the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 between 11th October and 3rd November 2019.
A few days earlier, the Zimbabwe cricketers have wished to play for free to save the country’s cricket. Both their women and men sides were desperate to feature in the upcoming global T20 qualifiers.
But, the Zimbabwe sides have no chances to participate in both these ICC tournaments due to their latest suspension. So, the ICC has decided to replace Zimbabwe with the other best-qualified teams for both these tournaments.
Namibia Women replaced Zimbabwe Women, Nigeria men replaced Zimbabwe men
For the Women’s Qualifier, Zimbabwe Women qualified after winning the ICC Women’s Qualifier Africa 2019. Due to their suspension, the runners-up of that tournament, Namibia Women have now qualified for the global Qualifier round.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe men directly qualified for the Men’s Qualifier after they finished as one of the five bottom sides in the ICC T20I rankings. Due to their latest suspension, the ICC had to search out the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2018/19. While both the champions and runners-up of the Africa Qualifiers have already qualified for the global Qualifier round, the ICC has decided to select the third-placed team of the Africa Qualifiers as the replacement of Zimbabwe in the global qualifiers.
Namibia and Kenya were the champions and runners-up of the Africa Qualifiers. Meanwhile, the Nigeria men were the third-placed side in that Africa Qualifiers. So, Nigeria men have replaced Zimbabwe men for the upcoming global qualifiers.
Australia will host both the ICC T20 World Cups in the next year
Eight teams will participate in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019. These teams are Scotland, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, USA and Namibia. The two finalists will qualify for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 will run from 21st February to 8th March 2020.
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On the other hand, a total of 14 teams will feature in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019. These teams are UAE, Hong Kong, Ireland, Oman, Scotland, Netherlands, Jersey, Kenya, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Nigeria and the top two teams from America Qualifier. The top six teams will qualify for the first round of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020. Australia will host this tournament from 18th October to 15th November 2020.