World T20 Asia Qualifier begins

Six teams, including an experienced Qatar team, began their ICC World Twenty20 Asia Qualifier ‘A’ campaign in Kuwait yesterday.
Whilst this is not the first international tournament to be hosted in Kuwait, this particular edition promises a greater edge given several factors, including presence of former international cricketers as coaches.
The Kuwait Cricket Board president Haider Farman welcomed the teams and ICC officials to Kuwait. “We are delighted to be hosting the first qualifying group in Asia for the ICC World T20 2020,” he said. “Whilst providing a platform for the development of cricket and a tremendous opportunity for Associate Nations to reach the main event and put themselves on the cricketing map, it also allows us a unique opportunity to continue building relationships, developing role models and generating social partnerships within the cricketing fraternity.”
With three teams from the current tournament due to progress to the next round of qualifying, the competition is set to be fierce among the other gulf nations with Kuwait set to take advantage of home conditions against equally competitive teams from Qatar, Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Maldives have the potential to cause an upset or two as well, keeping in mind the unpredictable and fast changing format of T20 cricket.
Kuwait coach and former South Africa international, Herschelle Gibbs, welcomed the fellow associate nations and spoke of the significant opportunity this presented to the host nation. “For Kuwait to be hosting this prestigious event for the very first time is not only a huge opportunity and privilege but also a gigantic leap forward in growing the sport locally.”
Simon John Gough, the Qatar coach, is confident of the team’s skills sets and cited good bonding between the players as the team’s strength.
The tournament began with hosts Kuwait picking up a big win against Maldives yesterday at the Sulaibiya Cricket Ground. Hosts put up 170 on the board in their allotted 20 overs, before they bowled out Maldives for a mere 68 to pick up a 102-run victory.
Tight bowling by Qatar pushed the UAE close in their match after the latter were set a 144-run target. Qatar opener Faisal Javid Khan played some brilliant shots, including seven boundaries, in his 26-ball 40. Tamoor Sajjad (31), Nouman Sarwar (24 not out) and captain Inam-ul-Haq (22) also pitched in with useful knocks.
In reply, some tight bowling with a wicket each for Awais Malik, Sajjad and the skipper, ensured that the UAE were pushed till the end before they wrapped up the game in the 19th over.
Saudi Arabia beat Bahrain by seven wickets in the other game.
In an action packed few days, the teams will play each other in round-robin format culminating in play-offs for the first, second and third places. (ICC)

Qatar squad: Inam-ul-Haq (C), Tamoor Sajjad, Zaheeruddeen Ibrahim, Iqbal Hussain Chaudhry, Kamran Khan, Mohamed Nadeem, Mohamed Awais Malik, Mohamed Rizlan Mohamed Iqbar, Noman Sarwar, Qalandar Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Mohamed Tanveer, Faisal Javed Khan, Gayan Munaweera. Coach: Simon John Gough