Finals day of the 9th Phuket International Cricket Sixes was played under glorious sunshine at the Kata Group Sports Ground in Chalong, Thailand.
The twenty-four teams competing in the ICC award winning tournament were ranked one to twenty-four and placed in Cup, Bowl, Plate and Spoon divisions following the completion of Round One.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Board has approved plans to increase the number of participants in the ICC World Twenty20 to 16 from 2014.
Following the first executive board meeting since the Woolf report recommended major changes to its corporate governance, some changes will be implemented.
Organisers of the ACST Phuket Cricket Week confirmed that twelve teams would contest the first ever Kata Group International Cricket 7s, the new annual cricket tournament being held in Phuket from 14-16th April 2012.
It was the manner in which Pietersen made his runs as much as anything that saw him take the award. In an England first innings where no other batsman struck above 52 runs per hundred balls, Pietersen’s strike rate of over 91 showed he was back to his best, as did the controversy over the switch hit when he was nearing his century.
18-year-old Afsar Zazai marked his first-class debut by hitting an unbeaten 87 to guide Afghanistan to an impressive come-from-behind victory over the Netherlands in the ICC Intercontinental Cup in Sharjah.
He came to the crease with his side at 86 for four chasing 233 to win and they were in more trouble at 111 for six but his innings turned the match on its head.
There is one stand-out candidate for this week's Cricket World Player of the Week award, and it is Rangana Herath, who ended the first Test against England with career-best match figures of 12 for 171.
Karim Sadiq's second One-Day International century helped Afghanistan clinch a five-wicket win over the Netherlands in the second One-Day International in Sharjah.
The two-match series was the latest instalment in the competition to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and with a win apiece, both sides kept themselves in contention.
Alexei Kervezee struck a sparkling 83 not out in 63 balls and Peter Borren took four wickets as the Netherlands beat Afghanistan in the first of two One-Day Internationals in Sharjah.
The Netherlands closed on 156 for one after bowling Afghanistan out for 153 to take their third win in the competition to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
ICC President Sharad Pawar has thanked the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for hosting a fantastic ICC World Twenty Qualifier UAE 2012, for the second successive time.
He added that the success of the tournament will ensure that cricket continues to be well supported in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Afghanistan fast bowler Aftab Alam has been reprimanded and warned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.
He was found guilty of a Level One breach which relates to pointing or gesturing to a batsman after dismissing them during the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier final against Ireland in Dubai.
Ireland beat Afghanistan by five wickets in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai to confirm their place in Group B of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 alongside Australia and the West Indies.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan, who posted 152 for seven before Ireland chased down their target with seven balls to spare, will join reigning champions England and 2007 winners India in Group A.
Organisers of the ACST Cricket Week confirmed today that a new home venue had been confirmed for the award winning series of cricket events taking place in Phuket, Thailand from 14 - 22 April.
Tournament Director, Mr Saurav Chatterjee, of organisers the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour commented, "Karon Municipal Council recently withdrew the availability of Karon Stadium, where we have staged the Phuket International Cricket Sixes since 2004, due to the forthcoming Thailand Youth Games in May.
Afghanistan sealed themselves a berth at the ICC World Twenty20 2012 by beating Namibia by 47 runs in the 1st qualifying final in Dubai.
They produced an outstanding all-round performance, first reaching 146 all out in their 20 overs and then dismissing Namibia for 99.
Namibia, Canada and Scotland completed the qualifiers after the group stage of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 in the United Arab Emirates.
Namibia top group B after their seventh straight win, Canada finished in third in Group A by beating Nepal but Scotland crept through in group B despite a shock seven-wicket defeat to the United States of America.
Afghanistan, Ireland and the Netherlands sealed their places in the play-offs with wins on day seven of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 in the United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan finished on top of Group A with a perfect record after beating Bermuda while there was also a win for Kenya over Uganda after Ireland and the Netherlands beat Oman and Hong Kong respectively.
Day six of action in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 proved to be one devoid of upsets as there were wins in the afternoon session for Bermuda, Canada, Ireland and Namibia.
Namibia are still yet to be defeated and top Group B while Canada's win over Denmark kept them in the hunt in Group A.
Afghanistan, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland all secured victories on the morning of day six of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 in the United Arab Emirates.
All four sides are ranked in the top six at the tournament and they all scored victories batting second over Hong Kong, United States of America, Nepal and Italy respectively.
Afghanistan and Namibia made it five wins out of five to remain at the top of their respective groups after the fifth day of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in the United Arab Emirates.
There was also a first win so far for the United States of America, who beat Oman, while also victorious were Hong Kong, Netherlands, Nepal, Italy and Ireland.
Afghanistan have joined Namibia in winning their first four matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 on day four of the competition.
They beat Nepal by 34 runs while there were also wins for Ireland, Kenya and Papua New Guinea.
Namibia made it four wins out of four - but only just - and there were also wins for the Netherlands, Canada and Scotland on the fourth morning of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 in the United Arab Emirates.
Namibia beat their fellow African challengers by just four runs while the victories for Netherlands, Canada and Scotland, over Denmark, Bermuda and Oman respectively, were far more comfortable.
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