Associate Countries aim for first-class title

The new-look ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will see 2004 champion Scotland playing the United Arab Emirates in Ayr and Canada taking on the Netherlands in Toronto.

The competition has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now ICC's premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members' cricket schedule. Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.

"With qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup a reality for many of the top Associate teams, there may be a danger that there will be too much of a focus only on one-day cricket," said ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy.

"But ODIs and other short forms of the game are only one side of it. What the ICC Intercontinental Cup does is it gives the players the chance to develop the skills required for multi-day cricket which, in turn, broaden and enhance players' abilities overall.

"Batsmen learn how to build innings and spend protracted periods of time in the middle while bowlers soon realise that in order to take 20 wickets in a match, they need a lot of patience and the ability to bowl longer spells in varying conditions.

"Apart from that, players get the chance to travel all over the world to play the game and face all the challenges and experiences that entails. The Intercontinental Cup has caught the imagination and is now a very important part of our programme and, I think, significant in the development of cricket outside of the Test nations," he said.

Always competitive, Scotland launches its campaign with a home fixture against the UAE at Cambusdoon, Ayr beginning on 27 June. In February, the Scots were unable to beat the UAE in Sharjah, which opened the door for Ireland to top the group and qualify for the final. Ryan Watson's side will be out to make sure home advantage counts and will be looking for an outright victory. The inclusion of young prospects Qasim Sheikh, Omer Hussain and Simon Smith in the Scotland squad indicates a willingness for the selectors to blood new talent.

With conditions at Ayr usually favouring seam rather than spin, Arshad Ali and his UAE troops will have their work cut out and a lot could depend on tall pace bowler Ali Asad who, on his day, is capable of causing problems for top batsmen.

The day after that game gets underway in Scotland, Canada and the Netherlands go head to head at Maple Leaf, Toronto. The Canadians were beaten by Ireland in May's final at Grace Road, Leicester but have plenty of proven performers, particularly left-arm seamer Umar Bhatti, who took a hat-trick in that game, captain Ashish Bagai and the experienced Jon Davison.

The Dutch will be without star all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who has not been released by Essex, and Bas Zuiderent for the game but with Alexei Kervezee and Darron Reekers there is still plenty of talent in the side. And with Mark Jonkman, Edgar Schiferli and Mohammad Kashif together, the Netherlands' bowling is as strong as it has been for some time.

Canada will play the UAE, also in Toronto, from 6 to 9 July in the other upcoming game. In August, there will be a busy Intercontinental Cup programme with Ireland hosting Scotland and Bermuda, Scotland playing the Netherlands in Aberdeen and the Netherlands welcoming the Bermudans to Amstelveen.