In a major boost to growth of cricket in Fiji, Cricket Fiji were awarded the hosting rights for ICC East Asia-Pacific A qualifiers for ICC World T20 qualification, which will be held from 25th – 29th Aug, 2018.
Fiji will compete against Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea for 2 qualification spots in the Asia-Pacific Regional Finals. Philippines will be hosting the Eastern Asia qualifiers where they will compete with Japan, Indonesia and Korea for one qualification spot in the Regional finals.
With one spot available from the Asia-Pacific region into the Global Qualifiers, the competition will be tough for all the teams with Papua New Guinea being the pre-tournament favourites and Vanuatu expected to give good challenge to them for qualification.
This will be the first time Fiji gets to host an ICC event of such magnitude and Cricket Fiji chairman Eliki Bomani believes that it’s crucial for the growth and awareness of the sport in the local communities to join the sport.
“We are happy to be hosting the tournament and it is one of the highest achievement,” Bomani said.
All matches will be played at Albert Park grounds in Suva. ICC have announced the schedule for the EAP A qualifiers on their website.
ICC WorldT20 East Asia-Pacific A Qualifiers Schedule:
25th Aug 2018: Fiji vs Vanuatu @Albert Park1 ; Papua New Guinea vs Samoa @Albert Park2 ; Fiji vs Papua New Guinea @Albert Park1 ; Vanuatu vs Samoa @Albert Park2
26th Aug 2018: Fiji vs Samoa @Albert Park1 ; Vanuatu vs Papua New Guinea @Albert Park2
28th Aug 2018: Samoa vs Papua New Guinea @Albert Park1 ; Vanuatu vs Fiji @Albert Park2 ; Samoa vs Vanuatu @Albert Park1 ; Papua New Guinea vs Fiji @Albert Park2
29th Aug 2018: Papua New Guinea vs Vanuatu @Albert Park1 ; Samoa vs Fiji @Albert Park2
