The ACC Challenger Cup, the opening event of the ACC’s extensive new 50-over pathway structure, begins play on February 24 in Bangkok. The tournament, which is the first step on the new Asia Cup qualification ladder, include hosts Thailand against fellow Asian Associates Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Myanmar, the Maldives, and Iran, as well as EAP invitees Indonesia, for two spots in the ACC Premier Cup qualifiers in April.
The Challenger Cup champions and runners up will join eight more established Associates, including ODI nations UAE, Nepal and Oman together with Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar, and Kuwait at the ACC Premier Cup, to be held in Nepal in late April.
Eight teams are split up into two groups of four teams, and each team competes in one round robin. Bahrain, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Iran are the opponents in Group A, while Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Myanmar make up Group B. The top two teams from each group advance to the crossover semifinals, which serve as the games that determine qualification. The winners of each semi-final advance to the Premier Cup and compete in the championship game.
