Denmark, ECB XI, Holland, Ireland, Italy and Scotland will be pitted against each other in group A, where current European Champions and 2001 ICC Trophy winners, Holland, will be particularly keen to hang onto their title, with all eyes upon them in their run up to the 2003 World Cup. The preparatory work done with them by ICC High Performance Manager Bob Woolmer will undoubtedly stand them in good stead for a third consecutive title, although they may face stiff competition from Scotland and hosts Ireland, both looking to reassert themselves after the disappointment of last season's ICC Trophy.

Group B, meanwhile, will be made up of France, Germany, Gibraltar and Israel, plus the two Affiliates, Portugal and Austria, who will, no doubt, be hoping to cause an upset.

The tournament will be launched at an opening Reception, hosted by Michael McGimpsey, MLA (Minister with responsibility for Sport), and attended by Tim Lamb (Chief Executive, ECB, and an officer on the European Cricket Council's Executive Committee), at Stormont Castle on Thursday 18 July. The trophy and awards will be presented at a banquet hosted by Belfast City Council at City Hall on Thursday 25 July. All matches will be played under ECC 50 overs rules, starting at 11.00 a.m. Duckworth Lewis will apply. There will be a designated media centre at the Europa Hotel. It is anticipated match scores will be updated hourly on the ICU website.

This will be the biggest tournament ever staged in Ireland, and will be followed immediately by the ECC U13-1st Division Tournament and, a couple of weeks later, by the ECC Women's U21 Tournament, both of which will be held in Dublin and will pit the hosts against Denmark, Holland and Scotland (plus, in the case of the Women's tournament, an ECB XI).