ICC WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS 2018

Cameron out; Wheal, C Sole included in Scotland's team for WC Qualifiers

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Kyle Coetzer will lead the team in Zimbabwe © Getty

Brad Wheal and Chris Sole, the Hampshire seamers, have been included in Scotland's squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Zimbabwe. Wheal and Chris Sole are part of a five-prong pace attack that also includes Safyaan Sharif, Stuart Whittingham and Alasdair Evans.

Allrounder Tom Sole and batsman Michael Jones, who both featured in their maiden international assignments for Scotland during the tri-series in UAE in January, have been retained in the 15-member squad announced on Wednesday (February 1). Jones, who scored a couple of half-centuries during the tri-series, was the top run-getter for Scotland in the series with 180 runs in four matches while Tom Sole played only one match in which he picked up a couple of wickets and scored 20.

"We welcome the new faces into the squad in Michael Jones and Tom Sole who have both adapted very quickly and shown their fantastic international qualities on the recent tour to Dubai. While the side will miss several experienced players of recent times, it contains a strong heart of quality proven players who are relishing the opportunity to step forward and dominate for Scotland," head coach Grant Bradburn said.

Scotland, meanwhile, have left out 21-year-old all-rounder Scott Cameron for the qualifying tournament. Cameron, who was part of the team that played in the tri-series, picked up three wickets at an average of 41 while he had an economy rate of 6.77. Con de Lange also missed out as he was unavailable for selection due to an ongoing health issue.

Skipper Kyle Coetzer, speaking about the selection, said: "We are all looking forward to the challenges ahead. The squad has been preparing efficiently, taking into consideration the conditions and the opposition we will face. The quality of the competition ahead will be higher and better than ever before, especially with four Full Member nations also required to qualify. There is nothing to fear, it is merely something we openly speak about and embrace.

"We hope to be in a position by the end of the tournament to not only qualify for the World Cup but also defend our title from the previous qualifying campaign. We have the depth within our squad to make this a reality and we will be raring to go when the opening game comes around," he added.

Echoing Coetzer, Bradburn said it was a balanced side. "The squad have had an excellent preparation phase over the winter months in Dubai including quality game and planning time leading into Zimbabwe. The team are now very familiar with the style of cricket that suits our individuals, which is also a style we believe will win the World Cup qualifiers. We have selected a nicely balanced side while the players themselves are determined to have no fear of bringing their dynamic skill sets coupled with a bloody-minded determination that reflects the prize at stake."

The Scotland team will depart on February 15 for a pre-tournament camp in Pretoria ahead of their official warm-up games against Papua New Guinea and Ireland on February 27 and March 1 respectively. Scotland are grouped alongside Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe and the runner-up of the ICC World Cricket League Division 2. The tournament gets underway from March 4 with Scotland facing off against Afghanistan in one of the four matches scheduled on the opening day.

Scotland squad:Kyle Coetzer (captain), Richie Berrington (vice-captain), Matthew Cross, Alasdair Evans, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Tom Sole, Craig Wallace, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal, Stuart Whittingham.

© Cricbuzz

TAGS

RELATED STORIES