USA to play in ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in UAE (October 2009)

The ICC Development Committee has granted USA an entry to the ICC World Twenty20 Cup Qualifier for the 2010 World Cup. The Qualifier tournament will be held during October of this year. Aside from USA and hosts UAE, the tournament will feature Ireland, Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Scotland.

Top two teams from the Qualifier will join the 10 full members in next year's World Cup to be held in West Indies in April-May 2010.

The ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "I am thrilled that the ICC Development Committee has again taken an expansive and innovative approach to promoting our great sport by inviting the UAE and USA to join the top six associate and affiliate teams at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier later this year."

"For the USA the tournament represents a wonderful opportunity to move towards a brighter future and exploit its potential after a period on the fringes following previous suspensions and demotions because of administrative issues.

"Twenty20 is the perfect vehicle for cricket to excite the USA and the carrot for its players and administrators is that a top-two finish will earn it a place in the main event which is to be held in its own region."

Lorgat added that he trusted that "the United States of America Cricket Association will embrace this opportunity and will prepare squads of the highest standard."

USA to play in ICC WCL Division 5 Tournament in Nepal (January 2010)

The ICC Development Committee announced that Nepal would host the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 to be held in January 2010.

The six-team event is to be played by Nepal, USA, Fiji, Jersey and two teams promoted from Division 6 to be held in Singapore in August/September 2009.

Top two teams from Division 5 will be promoted to Division 4 to be held in Italy in June, 2010.

Canada to play in ICC Intercontinental Cup; Bermuda in ICC Intercontinental Shield

In yet another initiative that is sure to motivate Associate countries, ICC has completely revamped its ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament.

The tournament will now be divided into two divisions, with the first division comprising the six leading Associate nations - Ireland, Canada, Kenya, Holland, Afghanistan and Scotland. A team from Zimbabwe will join the six associates.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "This new format will allow the top six Associate teams to maintain a high standard of even competitiveness." The ICC's Development Committee will offer prize money for the first time, with the winners taking US$100,000.

United Arab Emirates, Namibia, Bermuda and Uganda will play in the ICC Intercontinental Shield. This competition offers US$25,000 to the winner. USA will not take part in either of these but the new two-tier format with prize money gives USA something to aspire to as it embarks on its ambitious project to be among the top 15 cricket countries by 2015.