In the glamour and glitz of International cricket between top nations and the recently concluded Nokia Champions League many would have failed to notice that another ICC tournament is going on at the moment. It is the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2011-2013. Never heard about it before? Well this is a professional cricket tournament organized that has the Affiliate ICC member nations playing against one another to get better ranks in the ICC Affiliate nations leagues. Top prize for most of these rising cricketing nations is a ticket to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Let me clarify the tournament even further. There are two formats of the cricket being played as part of the Intercontinental Cup: firstly the first class tournament (which spans across three or more days) and the ODI format. Overall format for the tournament has also been re-modelled in the current year. Two division system has now been replaced by a single eight team division. There are six teams from 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division One: Canada, Afghanistan, Kenya, Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands. Along with these teams there are two top teams from 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Two in the form of Namibia and United Arab Emirates.
In terms of the first class format of the Intercontinental Cup Ireland and United Arab Emirates have advanced to final stages of the tournament with Ireland winning both their matches played and UAE managing to win one and draw the other. In terms of the most runs scored Khurram Khan and Saqib Ali from UAE lead the charts. While Gearge Dockrell from Ireland leads the wickets tally.
All important Intercontinental One Tournament has produced some results with Ireland and Scotland having already booked their tickets for Australia and New Zealand. Though only four matches have been played but both these teams with their 100% win record have overwhelmed their opponents. Other six teams still have a chance to book their berth in the next World Cup, as there are still two teams that will go through. These teams will have to participate in the World Cup qualifying tournament. In terms of performances in the ODI format Paul Coetzer from Scotland with 251 runs leads the batting charts with Rakep Patel from Kenya being placed in the second spot. Gordon Goudie from Scotland with his tally of nine wickets has highest number of scalps with Mudassar Bukhari of Netherlands in close pursuit with eight wickets.
Kenya which were a mega power during the 90’s have faded considerably during this year’s Intercontinental Cup while Afghanistan is showing good promise with their young talents. Ireland seem to be the new boss among the ICC Affiliate nations.
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