Cricket World Cup qualifying schedule for East Asia pacific regions for the Men, Women, and Under 19 categories are announced by International Cricket Council (ICC). Japan Cricket Association (JCA) is confirmed to host ICC U19 and Men’s World club Qualifiers in Sano, City of Cricket. As announced earlier this year, Due to COVID-19 pandemic, qualification rounds for the 2022 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup were delayed by a year.
Global competition schedule
- 2020 Feb and May, T20 World Cup Qualifiers
- 2022 ICC T20 Women’s World Cup will be held in Australia
- 2022 ICC T20 Men’s World Cup will be held in Australia
- 2023 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in West Indies
Men’s event shall be the biggest tournament hosted by Japan till date. It is certainly good news for Japan Cricket in 2021considering Mens and U19 Team will be playing on the home turf with in-depth knowledge of conditions. Women’s team will be the first on away travel to Samoa for the competition. Having being previously there, Team will be looking forward for their first major event in 2 years.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier:
| Event schedule | 3rd – 8th September |
| Host Country | Samoa |
| Teams (8) | Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Vanuatu |
This year, Japan national women’s team selectors announced high performance players team of 20. Japan Women’s team has more exposure to global events and are well aware of the challenges from the team participating the tournament. Team will rely services of Senior players like Shizuka Miyaji and Mai Yanagida.
ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup EAP Qualifier:
| Event schedule | 28th September – 4th October |
| Host Country | Japan, Sano City |
| Teams (4) | Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu. |
In 2019, Japan U19 MEN’S team were the winners of the previously held qualifiers held in Japan. Team took part in their Maiden U19 world Cup. Last year in the final, Papua New Guinea had to forfeit their final game against Japan due to unforeseen situation. Last year, PNG looked to be the strongest team in the competitions
U19 The team has immensely benefitted from global exposure and learning. The team will certainly look forward defend their title. Few of the players Markus Thurgate and Neel Date have graduated from U19 team to senior mens tam so U19 team will heavily rely new members and experiences shared by old members. National Selectors might include new 15year old sensation, Sano local boy Shotarou Takahashi to bolster the batting line up.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier:
| Event schedule | 11th – 16th October | |
| Host Country | Japan, SANO CITY | |
| Teams | Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Samoa, South Korea, Vanuatu |
Winner of this tournament will reserve their place in one of the 8-nation T20 World Cup Qualifiers scheduled for February and May 2022. Earlier this year, selectors announced squad of 20 that trained through out year preparing for this event. Team may few changes based on performances this season.
This is big opportunity to the winners to features in Global qualifiers for the first time. Papua New Guinea is another team in East Asia Pacific that will feature in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in India. Papa New Guinea aim shall be in top 8 but if not, atleast to be in Top 11 to gain entry on 2022 T20 Cricket world Cup Qualifiers. However, their International performances might hand them diret entry to qulifiers in 2022.
It will be the very engaging 2 months for the SANO CRICKET and Japan Cricket associations as all national teams & venues will be on duty for international competitions. Close to 60+ players would train prior to the events in Sano city of Cricket. Men’s event would be the biggest tournament hosted by Japan Cricket Association. This year Japan Cricket Association has won the Cricket 4 good initiate of the year Award for work done in Typoon Hagibis Recovery Project to help Sano city, the home of cricket in Japan.
This should be the beginning of the fulfilling dream of truly becoming The city of cricket for Domestic and Global International Events.
Japan U19 previous triumph articles
https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1238902
Shotarou Takahashi batting :
