The six Associate/Affiliate Members with ODI status – Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland – have automatically qualified for this event.

Some ODI status Associate/Affiliate sides took part in these qualifying events, along with emerging teams from ICC Full Members (e.g., South Africa and Zimbabwe).

[2] The tournament was won by Ireland, who defeated Afghanistan in the final, in a rematch of the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

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.

The International Cricket Council announced the umpires to officiate in the tournament.

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.