Channel Islands to host Twenty20 World Cup qualifier

Guernsey v France in the ICC European Division Two

Both islands have successfully hosted a number of tournaments

Guernsey and Jersey will host a qualification round for the 2012 Twenty20 World Cup.

The International Cricket Council is expanding the competition and the new qualifying structure will see Division One take place in the Channel Islands.

The change has come about because of the decision to expand the World Cup in Sri Lanka to 16 teams.

The inaugural Twenty20 ICC European Division 1 Championship will be held on both islands from 19-24 July 2011.

The other countries in Division One are Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Israel, Italy and Norway.

They will be joined by the winner and runner-up of Division Two, which will be contested in June in Belgium.

The Channel Islands were chosen having successfully hosted a number of world cricket tournaments.

Richard Holdsworth, ICC Regional Development Manager, said: "The new structure gives more member countries a better opportunity to reach a global qualifier and then potentially an ICC global tournament.

"All host venues have been carefully selected and we are very happy with them.

"Guernsey and Jersey did an excellent job hosting the ICC European World Cricket League Divisions One and Two this year and will no doubt again as co-hosts for the inaugural ICC European Division One Championship (T20)."