Oman and Qatar are likely to make their debuts on the senior international stage at the Asian Cricket Council Trophy in Singapore from July 9-21.

The Persian Gulf States are amongst nine teams announced as participants in the fourth gathering of Asia's non-Test countries - the others being defending champions, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Maldives and Kuwait.

ACC official, Mr. Anil Kalever, said Thailand would be the tournament's 10th team if it could meet the tournament's eligibility rules. It was excluded from the last ACC Trophy in Sharjah after competing in the 1996 and 1998 versions in Nepal and Malaysia respectively.

Japan is the only team from 2000 which will not take part in Singapore following its decision to remain in the International Cricket Council's East Asia-Pacific development region. It competed in last week's East Asia Eights Festival in Perth, and will be included in the East Asia regional 50-over-per-side tournament next year.

The pools and draw for this year's tournament are yet to be decided.

Qualifying for the final of this year's ACC Trophy will be about more than just the prestige of playing off for the title Asia's best non-Test nation - a potential $US100,000 awaits as the participation fee for playing in the 2005 Asia Cup.

Potential is the key word, as the UAE and Hong Kong are still awaiting the Asia Cup payday due to them as finalists of the 2000 ACC Trophy. The 2001 Asia Cup has been deferred several times following the refusal of the Indian government to allow its national cricket team to compete in the same tournament as Pakistan.

So the UAE and Hong Kong are not penalised. They will compete in the Asia Cup when it is next held with the winners of this year's ACC Trophy competing in the following Asia Cup which is tentatively slated for 2005.

© ICC 2002