ICC World Cricket League Division 3 starts today in Darwin

Today marks the start of the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 in Darwin, Australia, the latest step on the road to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 for the eight sides taking part.

Over the next seven days 20 matches spread over six venues are scheduled to be played by line-ups from all five of the ICC's development regions.

The top two sides in the tournament that involves Argentina, the Cayman Islands, Fiji, Hong Kong, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania and Uganda will earn a place in the ICC WCL Div 2 in Windhoek, Namibia, in November.

And a top-four finish there would mean a berth at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier (formerly the ICC Trophy) in the United Arab Emirates in 2009 and with it the chance to secure a spot in the next ICC Cricket World Cup, on the Asian sub-continent.

Explaining the significance of the ICC WCL and how the Darwin tournament fits in, ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy said: "The idea of the WCL is to give each of the 87 Associate and Affiliate Members a clearly defined pathway to progress and develop in world cricket.

"Apart from Division 1, which involves the top six Associate sides, the next best teams from the ICC Trophy 2005 have been allocated to Division 2 and 3 events along with the top teams from each of five regional qualifying events.

"It means that regular global one-day cricket opportunities are no longer confined to just the top sides in the LG ICC ODI Championship table and this tournament in Darwin is a prime example of that.

"Our belief is that by exposing these sides to different opponents and different conditions they will improve and take that improvement back into their own domestic structures thereby helping our strong sport grow even stronger by broadening its base to a significant degree.

"With places up for grabs in the ICC CWC Qualifier, the incentives and rewards for teams to improve have never been greater and I wish all the sides in action in Darwin the best of luck in what should be a terrific tournament and a great advertisement for Associate cricket," he added.

The squads are as follows:

Argentina: Esteban MacDermott (captain), Carlos Gibson, Pablo Ryan, Diego Lord, Martin Siri, Donald Forrester, Esteban Nino, Alejandro Ferguson, Pablo Ferguson, Lucas Paterlini, Matias Paterlini, Pedro Bruno, Gary Savage, Grant Dugmore. Derek Culley (manager), Hamish Barton (coach).

Cayman Islands: Ryan Bovell (captain), Steve Gordon, Pearson Best, Ainsley Hall, Saheed Mohamed, Michael Wight, Franklin Hinds, Keniel Irving, Ronald Ebanks, Troy Taylor, Kenute Tulloch, Jalon Linton, Joseph Kirkconnell, Ryan Ebanks. Stephen Best (manager), Theo Cuffy (coach), Andy Myles (assistant coach), Alvan Babb (physiotherapist).

Fiji: Seci Tuiwai Sekinini (captain), Inoke I Lesuma, Samuela Draunivudi, Iniasi Cakacaka, Iliesa Vuadomo Navatu Mcgoon, Sekove Ravoka, Josefa Falani Rika, Filimoni Vuliwaqa, Vuiyasawa Mateiwaqa, Taione Batina, Sakaraia Ratumuri Lomani, Taniela C.L.Waqaituinayau, Rajeev Patel, Colin Darian Rika. Llaisa Kacisolomore (manager), Steve Mullally (coach), Seci Sekinini (assistant manager).

Hong Kong: Ilyas Gull (captain), Afzaal Haider, Hussain Butt, Courtney Kruger, Nasir Hameed, Zain Abbas, Irfan Ahmed, Rahul Sharma, Khalid Khan, Nadeem Ahmed, Najeeb Amar, Skhawat Ali, Mark Eames, Mark Kratzmann. Ravi Nagdev (manager), Sameer Dighe (coach), Robert Liu (physiotherapist), Travis Pittman (media manager).

Italy: Joe Scuderi (captain/coach), Faheem Abid, Din Alaud, Alessandro Bonora, Andrea Corbellari, Troy Crosland, Hemantha Jayasena, Samantha Ketipe, Thushara Kurukulasuriya, Michel Minghetti, Andy Northcote, Nicholas Northcote, Kelum Perera, Nicola Puccio. Luca Bruno (manager), Roberto Lubich (physiotherapist).

Papua New Guinea: Rarua Dikana (captain), Christopher Amini, Mahuta Kivung, Frank Doura, John Ovia, Assad Vala, Api Leka Jnr, Loa Nou, Hitolo Areni, Piki Ravusiro, Arua Uda, Inoa Baeua, Mahuru Dai, Jamie Brazier. Udu Gau Mea Vai (manager), Apl Leka Snr (coach).

Tanzania: Hamisi Abdallah (captain), Benson Mwita, Khalil Rehmtullah, Riziki Kiseto, Hatim Kudrati, Issa Kikasi, Athumani Kakonzi, Abhik Patwa, Bhavesh Govind, Kassim Nassoro Mussa, Enjo Seti Kiongozi, Hasnain Damji, Shaheed Dhanani, Rishen Patel. Nazir Manji (manager), Zully Rehmtullah (coach), Taher Kitisha (tour manager).

Uganda: Joel Olweny (captain), Nand Niran Patel, Keneth Kamyuka, Frank Nsubuga, Arthur Kyobe, Raymond Otim, Lawrence Sematimba, Patrick Ochan, Charles Waiswa, Ronald Semanda, Jimmy Okello, Richard Okia, Benjamin Musoke, Roger Mukasa. William KibukaMusoke (manager), Samwiri Walusimbi (coach).

Eight umpires, including four from Australia and one each from Indonesia, Japan, PNG and Singapore will officiate in the matches, while former New Zealand international umpire Brian Aldridge will act as tournament referee.

Lakani Oala (Papua New Guinea), Neil Harrison (Japan), Shahul Hameed (Indonesia), Sarika Siva Prasad (Singapore), Bruce Oxenford (Australia), Tim Laycock (Australia), Simon Fry (Australia), Jeff Brookes (Australia), Brian Aldridge (New Zealand, Tournament Referee).

The Groups are as follows:

Group A
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Italy
Argentina

Group B
Uganda
Hong Kong
Cayman Islands
Tanzania

Sunday 27 May - Round 1
Argentina v Italy - Gardens
Cayman Islands v Tanzania - Tracy Village
Hong Kong v Uganda - Kahlin Oval
PNG v Fiji - Power Park

Monday 28 May - Round 2
Fiji v Italy - Marrara 1
PNG v Argentina - Gardens
Hong Kong v Cayman Islands - Power Park
Uganda v Tanzania - Nightcliff

Tuesday 29 May
Rest/reserve day

Wednesday 30 May - Round 3
Uganda v Cayman Islands - Marrara 1
Hong Kong v Tanzania - Tracy Village
PNG v Italy - Nightcliff
Fiji v Argentina - Kahlin Oval

Thursday 31 May
Semi finals A1 v B2 - Gardens
Semi finals A2 v B1 - Kahlin Oval
Plate S/finals A3 v B4 - Tracy Village
Plate S/finals A4 v B3 - Marrara 1

Friday 1 June
Rest/reserve day

Saturday 2 June
Final (Winners of Semi-finals) - Gardens
3rd/4th Playoff (Losers of Semi-finals) - Marrara 1
5th/6th Playoff (Winners of Plate Semi-finals) - Power Park
7th/8th Playoff (Losers of Plate Semi-finals) - Nightcliff

On each day of the tournament the ICC's website (https://www.icc-cricket.com) will carry a round-up of the action and scores and it is envisaged that photos will also be available.

Further details of the ICC WCL Div 3 event in Darwin can be found here: