Sixteen Associate and Affiliate teams will compete for two available spots in the 2012 World Twenty20 during a 72-match qualifying tournament in the UAE from March 13 to 24
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2011Sixteen Associate and Affiliate teams will compete for two available spots in the 2012 World Twenty20 during a 72-match qualifying tournament in the UAE from March 13 to 24.The teams are divided into two groups of eight with the top three in each group having a chance to win a place in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.The top two teams of each group will meet in the first qualifying final with the winner guaranteed a place at the World Twenty20. The loser of that match will play in the second qualifying final against the winner of a series of play-off matches. The winners of both qualifying finals will meet in the tournament final in Dubai.The winner of the tournament will be pooled with Australia and West Indies in group B of the World Twenty20, while the other team will be in group A with defending champions England and 2007 winners India.Afghanistan and Ireland made it from the qualifying tournament in 2010, with Afghanistan winning he competition by eight-wickets.Group AAfghanistan, Netherlands, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Denmark, Nepal.Group BIreland, Kenya, Scotland, Namibia, Uganda, Oman, Italy, USA.






