The finalists of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy which starts this week in Sharjah and Dubai will receive $US100,000 from the Asian Cricket Council.

The ACC will provide the funding to aid preparations for next year's Asia Cup, for which the 2000 finalists will automatically qualify.

This initiative was announced at a media conference held in Sharjah today by Asian Cricket Council official, Mr. Anil Kalaver.

It was also confirmed that Hong Kong would qualify for the Asia Cup, should it reach the final, despite its status as part of the International Cricket Council's East Asia-Pacific zone.

There was speculation that qualification for the Asia Cup would be limited to those countries falling within the ICC's Asia zone.

Hong Kong, along with Japan, is one of only two countries at the tournament whose travel and accomodation costs have not been paid for by the ACC. Such funding was limited to countries belonging to the ICC's Asia development zone.

The Hong Kong Cricket Association is known to be keen to be reclassified as part of the Asia zone. This will be discussed at the ACC meeting in Sharjah on November 22-23.

Hong Kong, along with Malaysia, Singapore and Kuwait, makes up Group A of the ACC Trophy, while the host the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, the Maldives and Japan comprise Group B.

© CricInfo Ltd