Fiji's preparations for next year's ICC Trophy have received a double blow with its likely ejection from two leadup tournaments.

After facing a potential dilemma of choosing between participating in the Asian Cricket Council Trophy in Dubai from November 15-24 or the inaugural Pacifica Cup in Auckland in February, the Fijians now face exclusion from both.

A decision by the Asian Cricket Council to limit the number of invitations to countries from the ICC's East Asia-Pacific development zone means Fiji and Papua-New Guinea will not compete in the eight nation tournament.

Compounding Fiji's plight is a New Zealand Government decision to deny entry to Fijian representative teams following Fiji's recent coup.

The situation higlights the problems of the Associate countries in the ICC's East Asia-Pacific zone.

As the only three Associate countries in the zone, Fiji, PNG and Hong Kong were all keen to play in a tournament where they felt they would meet opposition not available in their own backyard.

Hong Kong, as the only country of the three willing to pay all its costs to the ACC Trophy, has been included in Group A, along with Malaysia, Singapore and Kuwait.

Group B will comprise host nation, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Japan and the Maldives.

The Hong Kong Cricket Association is known to be keen to be 'relocated' from the East Asia-Pacific zone to the Asian development zone.

The choice of opposition is not the only attraction for East Asia-Pacific's three Associates with the Asian Cricket Council receiving significant funding from the Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan Cricket Boards.

Additionally, it is feared the zone will be allocated just one place when participation in the ICC Trophy is decided by regional play-offs after next year's event. With just three Associate members, other continental Associations would probably oppose a second qualifier.

Meanwhile, as predicted in an earlier edition of 'Beyond The Test World', the finalists of this year's ACC Trophy will qualify for next year's Asia Cup to be staged by Pakistan in April.

The move, designed to help lift standards in Associate countries, will see the finalists compete against Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

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