The 2005 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament held in Ireland between 1 July and 13 July 2005. It was an international one-day tournament played over 50 overs per side between 12 Associate Members of the International Cricket Council. It served as the final part of the Cricket World Cup qualification process, coming with the prize of a place in the 2007 Cricket World Cup (and together with it a share of US$2.5 million for future development) for the five top-ranked teams, and with the prize of official One-Day International status from 1 January 2006 (until the 2009 ICC Trophy) for the five top-ranked teams along with Kenya (who had already been given official one-day status until the 2009 ICC Trophy and a spot in the 2007 World Cup).
For the first time five spots were on offer for the World Cup, previously three. On 7 July, the top 4 teams Scotland, Canada and for the first time Ireland and Bermuda qualified for the 2007 Cricket World Cup and, from 1 January 2006, gained official One-Day International status. On 11 July the Netherlands also achieved this by beating the United Arab Emirates to finish fifth. Scotland won the tournament, beating Ireland by 47 runs in the final.
Dutch batsman Bas Zuiderent was named as Player of the Tournament.
It was the final edition of this competition under the name 'ICC Trophy' before it was renamed to the 'Cricket World Cup Qualifier' for 2009.
Firsts
The 2005 ICC Trophy featured coloured player clothing, white cricket balls and black sight screens instead of the traditional white clothing, red ball and white sight screens which had been used in the previous editions. All matches were accorded List A status unlike the previous editions which were classified as minor matches.
Competition format
The 12 teams were divided into two groups of six teams. Each team played with each other in its group once. Five matches per team were played between 1 July and 7 July. The resulting group tables were then each divided into three bands of two teams each.
Combining the two groups, the four teams in each band then played a mini knock-out tournament consisting of two semi-finals, a championship, and a consolation match, so that the first- and second-ranked teams from each of the original groups were playing for first through fourth place in the tournament overall; the third- and fourth-ranked teams for fifth through eighth; and the fifth- and sixth-ranked teams for ninth through twelfth. Thus at the end of the tournament all teams are given a definitive rank between 1 and 12. The final play-offs were played on 11 July with the final on 13 July.
Apart from the academic interest in this final classification, one match in particular had great significance: the winner of the second band's mini tournament would, by taking fifth place overall, become the fifth and final team to win temporary ODI status and an invitation to the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
Teams
There were 12 teams that played in the tournament.
The following countries were guaranteed a place in this competition:
The following countries gained a place in this competition through the pre-qualifying competition:
Squads
Group matches
Group A
Ireland (315 for 8) beat Bermuda (218 for 6) easily as Ed Joyce made 103 for the hosts in Stormont.
Denmark beat Uganda by 28 runs as Thomas Munkholt Hansen took 6 for 30 to carry Denmark to a 28-run win over Uganda in Muckamore. Denmark made 196 with Johan Malcolm making 71. Despite 59 from Kenneth Kamyuka, the Africans could only manage 168 in reply.
The United Arab Emirates (200) beat the United States (145), who remain in disarray after their recent political troubles.
The upset of the day was a 30 run win by Bermuda (217) over the United Arab Emirates (187).
The United States went down to a heavy 96 run defeat by Denmark, for whom wicket-keeper Frederik Klokker starred with 138 not out and a smart stumping.
An all-round performance by the Irish batsmen saw them through to 231 for 8 against Uganda. In reply, however, only Frank Nsubuga, with 59, put up any resistance as the hosts ended up winners by 127 runs.
Bermuda (249) steered towards the second spot in the group and the World Cup with a thumping 93-run win over Denmark, who lacked application in their batting as they were all out for 156.