Tribune News Network
Dubai
The inaugural Eurasia T20I Cup, a landmark new cricket tournament featuring eight ICC associate member nations from Europe and Asia, was officially announced on Friday. The first-of-its-kind tournament aims to bring together four European teams and four Asian teams annually to compete for top honours in the associate cricketing world.
The inaugural edition, set to take place in Dubai from January 1 to 18, 2025, will see Malta, Sweden, Norway and Romania carry the mantle for Europe while Asia will be represented by Indonesia, Myanmar and two more countries that will be announced at next month’s trophy unveiling ceremony in Dubai.
Former captain of the Cambodian cricket team and Director of the 32nd South East Asian (SEA) Games Manish Sharma, one of the brains behind the inaugural Eurasia T20I, said: “This tournament represents a new chapter in international cricket, particularly for associate nations, giving teams like Malta, Sweden, and Myanmar a platform to compete, grow, and build cricketing excellence. We believe this event will not only increase visibility for these nations but also inspire a new generation of cricketers across Europe and Asia.”
The planned eight-nation annual tournament will showcase some of the most promising cricket talent from these regions, giving associate nations the opportunity to compete on a global stage and further their development in the sport.
“Through this tournament, we aim to not only promote cricket in emerging regions, providing associate member nations the chance to gain international experience and recognition but also create a competitive environment that will help develop the skills and abilities of players from lesser-known cricketing nations,” added Sharma, who is also the board member of the Cambodia Cricket Federation.
“This will also help us build new partnerships between European and Asian cricketing boards, fostering collaboration and growth across borders.”
Yousuf Gilani of Cricket Norway, said, “The launch of the Eurasia T20I Cup signals the growing influence of associate nations in the global cricketing landscape. By offering teams like us a regular platform to compete, the tournament will play a pivotal role in expanding the sport’s reach and supporting the development of cricketing talent worldwide.”
At 39, Norway are currently the highest ranked T20I men’s team in the tournament.
