Scotland Cricket
The Scottish selectors have today announced their 15 man squad to travel to the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates, which commences on November 15.
Captain Kyle Coetzer will return to lead the senior side after recovering from a wrist injury which kept him out of the recent ICC World Cricket League and Intercontinental Cup fixtures against Ireland.
The squad includes seven centrally contracted players including Scotland’s leading One Day International wicket-taker Majid Haq.
Sussex’s 2013 Young Player of the Year Matt Machan will also make the journey to Dubai, along with wicket-keeper David Murphy who played a significant role in guiding Northants to the LV Division 2 Championship and the Friends Life t20 competition during the 2013 county season.
Also named in the squad are two of Scotland’s emerging young talents in Michael Leask and Matthew Cross.
Freddie Coleman is unable to make the tour due to university studies, while work commitments kept Calvin Burnett out of contention for selection.
Kyle Coetzer commented on the selection, “I’m really excited about the challenges that lie ahead. It’s a significant tournament and its crunch time now. This is an opportunity to show the character of this squad.
Having the likes of Paul Collingwood and Craig Wright joining our coaching team is only going to add to the experience we have at our disposal. Paul has had a successful season at Durham, and being an Ashes and T20 World Cup winner he will bring that unique knowledge, and with Craig being a former Scotland captain, it’s an exciting time.
We’ve got the quality in the squad, there is no doubt about that, we just have to make sure that we show our potential.”
Scotland will prepare with a 12 day tour to Sri Lanka before traveling to Dubai for two warm-up games against the USA and Namibia, before taking on Bermuda in their first group match on the 15th of November.
Scotland and Nepal are both in Group B and will face each other on November 18 at ICC GCA 2 Stadium.
Scotland Twenty20 Qualifying Squad (in full): Kyle Coetzer (captain), Preston Mommsen (vice-captain), Richie Berrington, Neil Carter, Matthew Cross, Gordon Goudie, Majid Haq, Moneeb Iqbal, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, David Murphy, Safyaan Sharif, Robert Taylor, Iain Wardlaw.
