Dates announced for third round of ICC Intercontinental Cup

ICC Media Release Dec 05, 2011: The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the third round of ICC Intercontinental Cup fixtures to be played at the beginning of next year 2012. The fixtures listed include both ICC Intercontinental Cup dates along with the 50-Over League fixtures and details of Twenty20 International matches that will be played by the teams during the window from February through to April.

The fixtures are as follows:

Kenya v Ireland

12-15 February – ICC Intercontinental Cup, Mombasa Sports Club, Mombasa

18 February – ODI, 50-Over League, Mombasa Sports Club, Mombasa

20 February – ODI, 50-Over League, Mombasa Sports Club, Mombasa

22 February – T20I, Mombasa Sports Club, Mombasa

23 February – T20I, Mombasa Sports Club, Mombasa

24 February – T20I, Mombasa Sports Club, Mombasa

United Arab Emirates v Scotland

16-19 February – ICC Intercontinental Cup, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

8 March – 50-over match, 50-Over League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

10 March – 50-over match, 50-Over League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Afghanistan v Netherlands

29 March – ODI, 50-over League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

31 March – ODI, 50-over League, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

2-5 April – ICC Intercontinental Cup, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah

Namibia v Canada

6-9 April – ICC Intercontinental Cup, Wanderers Sports Club, Windhoek

11 April – 50-over match, 50-Over League, Wanderers Sports Club, Windhoek

12 April – 50-over match, 50-Over League, Wanderers Sports Club, Windhoek

The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception seven years ago. The ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.

There will be a total of US$254,000 in prize money for the Associate and Affiliate teams taking part in the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2011-13 with US$100,000 for the winner and US$40,000 for the runner-up. Teams finishing in third and fourth place with receive US$20,000 and US$10,000 respectively while an outright win by any team during the course of the round-robin stage will see it walk away with US$3,000 per match.

Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event then evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game. This year’s format includes eight teams – Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia and United Arab Emirates.

Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in three events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider, Canada in the 2006-07 event, Namibia in 2007-08 while in 2009-10, Afghanistan won the competition.