Qualified teams The ten qualified teams from regional Twenty20 competitions played in the 2012 World Twenty20 Qualifier along with the six associate teams that had automatically qualified. Originally, after the cut of associates from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, it was decided to give associates more of a chance in Twenty20 format and expanded the main tournament to 16 teams with top 6 teams from the Qualifier going to the World Cup but after the re-inclusion of Associates in the 50-Over World Cup in 2015, the earlier format was retained and only the top two teams from this event qualifying for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. ACA ACA ACC EAP ECC Match officials The International Cricket Council announced the umpires that would officiate in this tournament. There would be 4 Regional Match Referees, plus 12 umpires, 7 of which are of the Elite Panel (which includes Simon Taufel, a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year Award recipient), and also 5 ICC Assiciate and Affiliate Panel of Umpires. Umpires Ahsan Raza Buddhi Pradhan Chris Gaffaney Ian Ramage Joel Wilson Johan Cloete Mark Hawthorne Ranmore Martinesz Roger Dill Sarika Prasad Simon Taufel Sudhir Asnani Match referees Adrian Griffith David Jukes Dev Govindjee Graeme Labrooy Format The tournament, held from 13 to 24 March, has 72 qualifying fixtures. The sixteen teams participating in this tournament has been divided into two groups of eight each. The top team from each group will meet in the first qualifying final with the winner being guaranteed a place in the World Twenty20 Cup 2012 to be held in Sri Lanka. The loser of that match will play the second qualifying final against the winner of a series of playoff matches. The winners of both qualifying finals will meet in the final at Dubai. Squads Fixtures and results The groups were announced by the ICC on 21 December 2011. Source:ESPNCricinfo All times are given in Arabian Standard Time – GMT+4 (UTC+4) Group A Points table Results Group B Points table Results Play-off stage 15th place play-off 11th to 14th place play-offs 11th Place Play-Off Semi-Final 1 11th Place Play-Off Semi-Final 2 13th Place Play-Off 11th Place Play-Off 7th to 10th place play-offs 7th Place Play-Off Semi-Final 1 7th Place Play-Off Semi-Final 2 9th Place Play-Off 7th Place Play-Off 1st to 6th Place play-offs Elimination Play-Off 1 Elimination Play-Off 2 5th Place Play-Off Qualifying Final 1 Elimination Semi-Final