ICC Media Release
The 12 teams at the ICC Trophy Ireland 2005 are split into two groups of six.
The top two teams from Group A and Group B will qualify for the semi-finals and will also be guaranteed a place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. These four teams will play semi-finals and a final to determine the winner of the ICC Trophy 2005.
The third and fourth teams in Group A and Group B will then play off for fifth place which will be the final qualifying spot for the ICC Cricket World Cup.
1. All about five · group matches for Ireland
Ireland has a good draw in the event. It has avoided the top four sides from the last ICC Trophy in Canada four years ago ö Holland (the holders), Namibia, Canada and Scotland.
Ireland begins its campaign against Bermuda and if it wins all five of these group matches it will definitely be travelling to the West Indies for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
- 1 July: Ireland v Bermuda, Civil Service
- 2 July: Ireland v Uganda, North Down
- 4 July: Ireland v United Arab Emirates, Civil Service
- 5 July: Ireland v USA, Waringstown
- 7 July: Ireland v Denmark, Bangor
2. All about five · key matches in Group A
The top two teams from Group A will qualify for the semi-finals. The main challenges to the host nation are likely to come from the 1994 ICC Trophy winner, United Arab Emirates, and the ICC Six Nations Challenge 2004 winner, USA. The decisive group match could be between Ireland and USA at Waringstown on 5 July.
- 1 July: UAE v USA, Downpatrick
- 2 July: Denmark v USA, Armagh
- 4 July: Ireland v United Arab Emirates, Civil Service
- 5 July: Ireland v USA, Waringstown
- 7 July: Uganda v UAE, Lurgan
3. All about five · key matches in Group B
On paper Group B looks to be the tougher half of the draw as it contains the holders and runners-up from 2001 ö Holland and Namibia ö as well as the ICC Intercontinental Cup champions Scotland and the Americas champions Canada. The top two qualifiers would be expected to come from these four nations but Oman, the only Affiliate member in the event, caused a series of upsets in Asia to make it to Ireland and Papua New Guinea was impressive in winning the recent ICC World Cup Qualifying Series Division Two event.
- 1 July: Namibia v Canada, Woodvale
- 1 July: Scotland v Canada, Bangor
- 3 July: Holland v Namibia, RBAI
- 4 July: Holland v Canada, Eglinton
- 6 July: Holland v Scotland, Civil Service
4. All about five · key knockout matches
Once the group stages are over the sides will move to southern Ireland to contest the semi-finals with Clontarf holding the final on 13 July.
- 9 July: A1 v B2, Clontarf
- 9 July: A2 v B1, The Hills
- 9 July: A3 v B4, Malahide
- 9 July: A4 v B3, North County
- 13 July: Final, Clontarf
5. All about five · vs six
While most of the tournament attention will be on the battle between the top four sides for the ICC Trophy, there will be an equally intense fight for fifth spot in the event which provides the final qualifying slot at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. After the group stage there will be four sides still in contention for this vital fifth spot with the decisive match scheduled for 11 July at Clontarf.
- 11 July: 5th v 6th playoff