In the recently completed International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting held in Auckland, New Zealand, approval was given to a nine-team Test league and a 13-team One Day International (ODI) League.
The schedules of the leagues is due to start in 2019 and 2020 respectively with the purpose to bring context and meaning to bilateral cricket.
ICC Chairman, Shashank Manohar, said: “Bringing context to bilateral cricket is not a new challenge, but this is the first time a genuine solution has been agreed on. This means fans around the world can enjoy international cricket knowing every game counts and in the case of the ODI league, it counts towards qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup.”
ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson, added: “This is a significant point in time for ICC Members and our collective desire to secure a vibrant future for international bilateral cricket. The ICC Board decision today means we can now go and finalise a playing schedule for the first edition as well as the points system, hosting arrangements and competition terms.”
This decision by the ICC Board has a huge impact on Cricket PNG and the Hebou PNG Barramundis. The Hebou PNG Barramundis are currently sitting in second position on the ICC World Cricket League Championships (WCLC) on 16 points, trailing Netherlands who are on top of the standing on 18 points after Round 6.
Round seven fixtures take place in the United Arab Emirates on 6 and 8 December 2017. Positions will be important as the winner of the ICC WCLC will take the 13th position in the new ODI League.
“We are firstly very pleased that the Hebou PNG Barramundis have advanced to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in 2018. Full credit must be given to Assad Vala, the Hebou PNG Barramundis and the support staff for all the hard work and sacrifice over the past couple of years to reach this goal,” said Cricket PNG Chief Executive Officer, Greg Campbell.
“We are even more excited now after this announcement by the ICC Board. We now have a genuine chance of not only winning the ICC WCLC for the first time, but also have an opportunity to join this new ODI League in a couple of years’ time.
“Getting an opportunity to play against Full-Member countries in ODIs is amazing. We are yet to play any Full-Member Country in ODIs, which we have been aiming to do since we were granted ODI Status,” concluded Campbell.
The Hebou PNG Barramundis have played a total of ten ODIs since the ICC Grated Cricket PNG ODI Status in 2014, against Hong Kong, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates winning fifty percent of these matches.
A number of decisions around event hosts were taken by the ICC Board in Auckland with Zimbabwe confirmed as the hosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier which will be held in March 2018.
ICC World Cricket League Championship standings:
Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts
Netherlands 12 8 2 0 2 18
Hebou PNG Barramundis 12 8 4 0 0 16
Scotland 12 6 3 0 3 15
Hong Kong 12 6 4 0 2 14
Kenya 12 6 6 0 0 12
Nepal 12 4 7 0 1 9
Namibia 12 3 9 0 0 6
United Arab Emirates 12 3 9 0 0 6
ICC World Cricket League Championship round 6 fixtures and results
Namibia v United Arab Emirates, Windhoek - 21 September – UAE won by 6 wickets
Namibia v United Arab Emirates, Windhoek - 23 September – Namibia won by 4 wickets
Hebou PNG Barramundis v Scotland, Port Moresby - 6 and 8 October – Scotland won by 101 runs
Hebou PNG Barramundis v Scotland, Port Moresby - 6 and 8 October – PNG won by 5 wickets
Kenya v Netherlands, East London, South Africa - 6 and 8 October – Netherlands won by 6 wickets
Kenya v Netherlands, East London, South Africa - 6 and 8 October – Kenya won by 2 wickets
Hong Kong v Nepal, Mong Kok - 13 October – Hong Kong won by 83 runs
Hong Kong v Nepal, Mong Kok - 15 October – Match abandoned without a ball bowled
ICC World Cricket League Championship round 7 fixtures
Kenya v Scotland, Dubai International Cricket Stadium – 6 and 8 December
UAE v Nepal, Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi - 6 and 8 December
Hong Kong v Hebou PNG Barramundis, ICC Academy 1 Dubai - 6 and 8 December
Netherlands v Namibia – ICC Academy 2 Dubai - 6 and 8 December