Actually I didn't think they looked that bad - sure there were some fairly wooden forward defensives and that left-arm seamer wasn't exactly smooth, but they weren't clueless.
I am tipping India for this one. They have the most underappreciatd back up players. Would like to see UAE score an upset win though.Groups:
Group A, Karachi :
India
Pakistan
Hong Kong
Group B, Lahore :
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
UAE
Fixtures :
June 24th:
Match 01: Pakistan V Hong Kong, Karachi
Match 02: Bangladesh V UAE, Lahore
June 25th:
Match 03: Sri Lanka V Bangladesh, Lahore
Match 04: India V Hong Kong, Karachi
June 26th:
Match 05: India V Pakistan, Karachi
Match 06: Sri Lanka V UAE, Lahore
June 28th:
Match 07: A2 V B2, Karachi
June 29th:
Match 08: A1 V B1, Karachi
June 30th:
Match 09: A1 V A2, Karachi
July 2nd:
Match 10: B1 V B2, Karachi
July 3rd:
Match 11: A1 V B2, Karachi
July 4th:
Match 12: A2 V B1, Karachi
July 6th:
Match 13: FINAL, Karachi
When push comes to shove who gets test status will boil down to which side of the divide the country in question aligns itself with and whether that side can arm twist the others to get its way. Right now I would think the cricket authority that leans with Asian block will be more likely succeed in gaining Test status as what happened when they gave Bangladesh Test status, or it could boil down to a compromise like they did with the ICC presidency with one team from each alignment gaining test status and keeping the balance.
As i've said before, Bangladesh's hit and miss attitude is going to be the deciding factor. I'm still predicting 2-1 to Ireland.
It would be nice, and would be interesting; but the ICC seems to be determined not to expand at the moment despite the fact that Ireland could match Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at Test Level, even maybe giving the West Indies a run for their money.
The problem with that theory is that Ireland and Scotland at the moment won't tour to Zimbabwe on ethical grounds.
If the BCCI allow India to tour Zimbabwe in May and probably even play test matches then it will be ethics out the window, besides no one appears to be asking the big quetion, as to how bannina couple of sportsmen from Zimbabwe from playing in the UK, or vice versa, is going to do global democracy any good.
Personally I wouldn't mind Zimbabwe playing in Ireland but you'll have to accept that Ireland, Scotland and England won't go to Zimbabwe. Strictly speaking Ireland has no involvement in the situation but Cricket Ireland will obviously follow the lead of the ECB and it's the same with the governments.