National squad for ICC Europe Division 1 Championship announced

The Israel squad to participate in the Division 1 European Championships in the Channel Islands later this month has been announced. The 14-man squad, captained once again by Herschel Gutman, will compete in Group B of the 12-nation tournament alongside Jersey, Denmark, France, Germany and Belgium. The Israel team includes a record five players who have come through the local youth development programme, including one, 17-year old Shifron Waskar, who will be making his debut.

Israel Squad:

Herschel Gutman, Captain / Coach (Lod Rangers)
Yaniv Razpurker, Vice Captain (Neve Yonatan)
Shailesh Bangerra (Super Lions Lod)
Nir Dokarkar (Dimona A)
Josh Evans (Ra'anana)
Daniel Hotz (Ra'anana)
Daniel Hyman (Ra'anana)
Itamar Kehimkar (Neve Yonatan)
David Massil (Super Lions Lod)
Yefet Nagavkar (Super Lions Lod)
Eliezer Samson (Lod Rangers)
Eshkol Solomon (Super Lions Lod)
Raymond Talkar (Lod Rangers)
Shifron Waskar (Lions Be'er Sheva)

Steve Leigh, Manager
Abraham Penkar, Scorer

This year sees the introduction of a new structure for European Cricket, with a reduction in the number of divisions from five to three, hence the 'promotion' of Israel from Division 2. Whilst some of their opponents will be very familiar, France and Germany who they played in last years' tournament, as well as Belgium who they beat along the way to winning Division 3 in 2009, taking on the likes of Jersey and Denmark, strong teams far higher up in the world rankings, will be a new challenge. The change in structure is accompanied by a change in format, with all matches being played in the increasing popular T20 (20 overs per side) format. This provides a new challenge in itself for the players who have no international experience in this format, although the ICA did introduce an expanded T20 domestic tournament this year to allow the national team maximum preparation.

Regarding the team, Solomon, who starred in last years tournament, along with Hotz and Evans who have been in excellent form in domestic cricket of late, will be expected to lead the batting line up, batting in the all important three, four and five positions. Hyman, and the recalled Nagavkar, who last played for Israel in the 2005 Maccabiah, will open the batting, whilst Gutman, Razpurker, Kehimkar, Dokarkar and Bangerra, all the with ability to score quickly and rotate the strike, will have important roles to play. Seamer Massil, the most experienced member of the squad will lead the bowling attack along with Talkar, Samson, Waskar and Gutman, whilst leg spinner Evans will have added responsibility as the only recognised slow bowler in the team. In a format which demands an intense fielding level from first ball to last, Israel are well set with probably their most exciting fielding unit in recent years, due to the inclusion of so many youngsters.

About the tournament

The ICC European Division 1 Championship is the culmination of a summer of European T20 cricket pathway events, which leads to the ICC World Twenty20 global qualifier in Dubai, UAE in March 2012.

The tournament is taking place between the 19-24 July, at eight venues across Jersey and Guernsey; five in Jersey Grainville, Farmers, FB Fields, Les Quennevais, Victoria College and three in Guernsey; KGV, Port Soif, College Field.

Tournament Director, ICC Regional Performance Officer, Philip Hudson is very happy with the preparations so far; "The ICC European Division 1 Championship, is the culmination of three months of competition, which leads the top two teams into the Global qualifier next March in UAE. The two European qualifiers will be provided with a wonderful opportunity to test themselves against the other leading Associate and Affiliate countries, in the Twenty20 format.

Jersey and Guernsey have a great record of being excellent ICC European tournament hosts and have done a fantastic job in getting the islands ready for the ICC European Division 1 Championship," said Hudson.

Group A
19 July; Guernsey v Norway, KGV (1100); Italy v Croatia, College Field (1100), Gibraltar v Austria, Port Soif (1100); Austria v Italy, KGV (1600); Guernsey v Croatia, College Field (1600) Gibraltar v Norway; Port Soif (1600)
20 July; Guernsey v Austria, KGV (1100) Italy v Gibraltar, College Field (1100); Croatia v Norway, Port Soif (1100); Gibraltar v Croatia KGV (1600); Norway v Austria, College Field, (1600); Guernsey v Italy, Port Soif (1600)
21 July; reserve day
22 July; Italy v Norway, KGV (1100); Guernsey v Gibraltar, College Field (1100); Croatia v Austria, Port Soif (1100)

Group B
19 July; France v Belgium, FB Fields (1100); Denmark v Israel, Grainville (1100); Jersey v Germany, Les Quennevais 1 (1100); Belgium v Denmark, FB Fields (1600); Israel v Jersey, Grainville (1600); Germany v France, Les Quennevais 1 (1600)
20 July; Israel v Germany, FB Fields (1100); Denmark v France, Grainville (1100); Jersey v Belgium, Farmers (1100); Belgium v Germany, FB Fields (1600) Israel v France, Grainville (1600); Jersey v Denmark, Farmers (1600)
21 July ; reserve day
22 July; Jersey v France, FB Fields (1100); Denmark v Germany, Farmers (1100); Israel v Belgium, Les Quennevais 1 (1100)

Cross over semis, play offs & Final
23 July; A1 v B2 TBC (1100); A2 v B1, TBC (1100); A3 v B4, TBC (1100); A4 v B3, TBC (1100); A5 v B6, TBC (1100); A6 v B5, TBC (1100)
24 July; 3rd-4th match, Grainville (1000); 5th-6th match, Farmers (1000); 7th-8th match, FB Fields (1000); 9th-10th match, Victoria College (1000); 11th-12th match, Les Quennevais (1000); Final, Grainville (1430)

The tournament will be covered live on the ICC Europe website www.icc-europe.org