Ireland to host inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier

Dubai, Dec 14 (UNI) Ireland will host the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in August next year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said today.

The tournament, which will be staged from August 2 to 4 at the Stormont ground in Belfast, will feature the six Associate ODI teams -- Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland.

The two finalists will join the 10 Full Members at the next ICC World Twenty20 in England, besides receiving 250,000 dollars each for qualifying.

Chief Executive of the Irish Cricket Union (ICU), Warren Deutrom has welcomed the announcement.

''The ICU is excited at the prospect of hosting this inaugural Associate World Twenty20 on home soil in Stormont,'' he said.

''Three games a day for three days in this highly popular form of the game will surely attract the interest of the Irish public.'' UNI