Guernsey start with a Finnish adventure
FINISH first in Finland. That is the Guernsey team’s primary objective now that the road to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 has been confirmed for European nations, with Helsinki the Sarnians’ initial destination.
Three eight-team qualifying events will take place this summer, with only the winner of each progressing to September’s Europe Final where they will join Jersey – who qualify by right by being the top-ranked European team outside of those who will be at Australia 2020 – to compete for two spots at the Global Qualifiers, which is just one step away from the main event in India.
Guernsey have been drawn in Europe Qualifier B, which, somewhat confusingly, will be held after both the A and C competitions, which take place in Spain and Belgium respectively.
The island side, who are back under the stewardship of Andy Cornford, will face hosts Finland, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Hungary, Gibraltar and Greece.
The tournament will be from 24-30 June and will be played on artificial wickets.
‘Now we have this confirmation we can fully commit to the preparation process and get the boys into the best shape possible for Finland. That had already begun with many back into the ISC before Christmas and all back now under the watchful eye of the new coaching team of Andy Cornford and Olly Tapp,’ said Mark Latter, the Guernsey Cricket chief executive officer.
‘With a group of eight and only one to qualify this will require us to hit the ground running and everything we do from here on is geared to do just that.’
More in Wednesday's Guernsey Press.
