Ireland to host inaugural World Twenty20 qualifiers

Ireland will host the inaugural World Twenty20 Qualifiers between August 2 and 4, with the top six Associates vying for the two places available to them in next year's ICC World Twenty20 in England.

The hosts are the No.1 seeds and have been placed in Group A, which also includes Scotland and Bermuda. Group B comprises Kenya, Netherlands and Canada. The seedings were decided according to how the teams stood in the one-day rankings on February 2.

The tournament will be the first time that Ireland, Bermuda, Netherlands, and Canada have played international Twenty20s. Kenya and Scotland had their first experience of the format when they took part in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa last year.

There will be three matches a day, all hosted at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. The opening game will be between Kenya and Netherlands.