The 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier was the tournament played in Fiji and Philippines as part of qualification process for the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup.[1]
Twelve regional qualifiers were held by the International Cricket Council (ICC), with 62 teams[n 1] competing during 2018 in five regions – Africa (3 groups), Americas (2), Asia (2), East Asia Pacific (2) and Europe (3). The top 25 sides from these progressed to five Regional Finals in 2019, with seven teams then going on to compete in the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier,[2][n 2] along with the six lowest ranked sides from the ICC T20I Championship.[2] In April 2018, the ICC granted full international status to Twenty20 men's matches played between member sides from 1 January 2019 onwards. Therefore, all the matches in the Regional Finals were played as Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).[3]
The top two teams in Group A, and the top team of Group B of the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, progressed to the Regional Finals.[4]Papua New Guinea won Group A,[5] with Vanuatu finishing in second place to progress to the Finals.[6] Group B was won by the Philippines.[7] It was also the first ICC tournament to be held in the Philippines.[8]
Papua New Guinea progressed to the T20 World Cup Qualifier after winning the Regional Finals, held in Papua New Guinea in March 2019.[9][10]
Papua New Guinea won by 8 wickets Albert Park Ground 2, Suva Umpires: Bri Olewale (PNG) and Hitesh Sharma (Phi) Player of the match: Charles Amini (PNG)
Papua New Guinea won by 2 wickets Albert Park Ground 1, Suva Umpires: Mervyn McGoon (Fij) and Hitesh Sharma (Phi) Player of the match: Assad Vala (PNG)
Group B was held at Friendship Oval at Emilio Aguinaldo College in Dasmariñas, Philippines from 1 to 7 December 2018.[12][13] The top team progressed to the Regional Finals.[4]
Philippines won by 6 runs Friendship Oval, Dasmariñas Umpires: Nathan Johnstone (Aus) and Suresh Subramanian (Idn) Player of the match: Surinder Singh (Phi)
South Korea won by 7 runs Friendship Oval, Dasmariñas Umpires: Nathan Johnstone (Aus) and Hitesh Sharma (Phi) Player of the match: Kadek Gamantika (Idn)
Muhammad Nadeem 34* (18) Makoto Taniyama 3/18 (3 overs)
Masaomi Kobayashi 50 (30) Muhammad Nadeem 3/33 (3.3 overs)
Japan won by 6 wickets Friendship Oval, Dasmariñas Umpires: Hitesh Sharma (Phi) and Suresh Subramanian (Idn) Player of the match: Makoto Taniyama (Jpn)
Jonathan Hill 23 (27) Mudassir Iqbal 4/20 (3.5 overs)
Muhammad Nadeem 38 (29) Surinder Singh 3/17 (4 overs)
Philippines won by 4 runs Friendship Oval, Dasmariñas Umpires: Hitesh Sharma (Phi) and Suresh Subramanian (Idn) Player of the match: Surinder Singh (Phi)
South Korea won by 6 wickets Friendship Oval, Dasmariñas Umpires: Nathan Johnstone (Aus) and Suresh Subramanian (Idn) Player of the match: Mudassir Iqbal (Kor)
Muhammad Nadeem 68 (32) Rui Matsumura 3/13 (4 overs)
South Korea won by 4 wickets Friendship Oval, Dasmariñas Umpires: Nathan Johnstone (Aus) and Hitesh Sharma (Phi) Player of the match: Muhammad Nadeem (Kor)
Philippines won by 28 runs Friendship Oval, Dasmariñas Umpires: Bri Olewale (PNG) and Suresh Subramanian (Idn) Player of the match: Karweng Ng (Phi)
Indonesia won the toss and elected to field.
Regional Finals
The Regional Finals were held in Papua New Guinea from 22 to 24 March 2019.[14] Following the effects of Cyclone Trevor,[15] fixtures on the opening two days could not be played due to a waterlogged pitch, so the schedule was rearranged.[16] On the first day of fixtures, Papua New Guinea won their two matches, both by large margins.[17] Before the last day of matches, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu were both in contention to win the group, with the Philippines being eliminated.[18] On the last day of fixtures, Papua New Guinea won the group to advance to the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier, with Vanuatu being eliminated after losing against the Philippines.[19]Nalin Nipiko of Vanuatu was named the Player of the Tournament.[20]
Cricket tournament
ICC T20 World Cup East-Asia Pacific Regional Finals Qualifier
