Bangkok, January 27, 2024 – Brace yourselves for a cricketing extravaganza as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) brings you the second edition of the ACC Men’s T20I Challenger Cup, scheduled to light up Bangkok, Thailand, from January 27 to February 11. The tournament serves as a crucial step in the qualification pathway for the prestigious Asia Cup 2025.
Qualification Stakes: With the top two teams earning a coveted spot in the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup, the Challenger Cup becomes the battleground where dreams transform into reality. A qualification that propels the victorious teams into the final stage of the Asia Cup cricket tournament.
Participating Teams: A total of 10 teams, including Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Maldives, Singapore, and Thailand, will showcase their cricketing prowess in 22 thrilling matches over two action-packed weeks.
Qualifier Showdown: The Challenger Cup kicks off with Cambodia, China, and Myanmar battling it out in the Qualifier from January 27-30. The winner secures a ticket to the main draw of the tournament.
Group Stage Dynamics: In the group stage, eight teams are split into two groups, each navigating a round-robin format. Group A features Bhutan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the qualifier, while Group B boasts Japan, Maldives, Singapore, and Thailand. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
Key Matches and India Start Times (IST):
Saturday, January 27
Cambodia vs Myanmar, Qualifier 1 – 8:00 AM
Sunday, January 28
Cambodia vs China, Qualifier 2 – 8:00 AM
Monday, January 29
Myanmar vs China, Qualifier 3 – 8:00 AM
Tuesday, January 30
TBC (qualifier 2) vs TBC (qualifier 3), 9th Place Play-off – 8:00 AM
Thursday, February 1
Saudi Arabia vs TBC (qualifier 1), Group A – 8:00 AM
Indonesia vs Bhutan, Group A – 12:00 PM
Friday, February 2
Singapore vs Maldives, Group B – 8:00 AM
Japan vs Thailand, Group B – 12:00 PM
Saturday, February 3
Saudi Arabia vs Bhutan, Group A – 8:00 AM
Indonesia vs TBC (qualifier 1), Group A – 12:00 PM
Sunday, February 4
Singapore vs Thailand, Group B – 8:00 AM
Maldives vs Japan, Group B – 12:00 PM
Monday, February 5
Saudi Arabia vs Indonesia, Group A – 8:00 AM
Bhutan vs TBC (qualifier 1), Group A – 12:00 PM
Tuesday, February 6
Singapore vs Japan, Group B – 8:00 AM
Thailand vs Maldives, Group B – 12:00 PM
Wednesday, February 7
A3 vs B3, 5th Place Play-off – 8:00 AM
A4 vs B4, 7th Place Play-off – 12:00 PM
Friday, February 9
Semi-final 1 – 8:00 AM
Semi-final 2 – 12:00 PM
Sunday, February 11
TBC vs TBC, 3rd Place Play-off – 8:00 AM
ACC Men’s T20I Challenger Cup 2024 final – 12:00 PM
Where to Watch in India: Catch all the live action on the FanCode app and website. Unfortunately, there will be no live telecast of the ACC Men’s T20I Challenger Cup 2024 on any TV channel in India.
Mark Your Calendars for the Culmination: The knockout rounds promise heightened intensity, with the first qualifier on February 2nd, the first eliminator on February 3rd, and the second eliminator on February 4th. Finally, the grand finale awaits on Monday, February 5th, at 12:00 PM, where one team will emerge as the ACC Men’s T20I Challenger Cup 2024 champions.
Get ready for the thrill of boundaries, spectacular catches, and nail-biting finishes as Bangkok becomes the epicenter of cricketing excitement!
