South_Korea_national_cricket_team
South Korea national cricket team
Cricket team
The South Korea national cricket team is the team that represents South Korea in international cricket. It is governed by the Korea Cricket Association, which became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001 and an associate member in June 2017.[1] Their first international appearance was in the ICC East Asia/Pacific 8s tournament in Perth in 2002, where they came fourth in a tournament that also involved Japan, Indonesia and an Australian Aborigines team. They also competed in 2011 east Asia Pacific tournament.
In 2013 Arirang TV broadcast a documentary Bowling for Gold in their programme Arirang Prime on the Korean national cricket team as the 2014 Asian Games approached. The documentary highlighted their struggle to put together a national cricket team without any support from government agencies, their journeys to the 2011 ICC EAP Trophy Division 2 in Samoa making their international debut and winning their first match, rebuilding the national team two years later for the Asian Games and touring Chandigarh, Punjab, India as part of their preparations including playing against youth teams and training from Indian coaches. During their stay they also watched an IPL match at the Mohali Stadium and met some of the players such as Adam Gilchrist.[5]
The team competed in 2014 Asian Games in Incheon as the host nation team, in which the team reached the quarter-final where they were defeated by the Sri Lankan cricket team. Matches were played at the purpose-built Yeonhui Cricket Ground in Incheon.
In 2016, the team competed in the inaugural East Asia Cup played among the four teams with Japan, China and Hong Kong Dragons being the other three teams. Thee tournament was hosted by Japan Cricket Association at Sano International Cricket Ground. In the group stage South Korea won all their matches except the one against Japan.[6] The tournament was won by South Korea after beating Japan in the final.[7][8][9][10]
In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between South Korea and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 are treated as full T20Is.[11]
South Korea participated in the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 East Asia-Pacific Qualifier group B. This was the first round of qualification for the 2020 ICC World Twenty20 tournament which will be held in Australia. They finished in 2nd place behind the Philippines who qualified for the next round.
