Bermuda and Canada start favourites

Bermuda will be aiming to retain their ICC Americas Division 1 Championship title when the tournament begins in Lauderhill, Florida, on Tuesday.

They will be joined in the regional event by hosts USA, Canada, Cayman Islands, Argentina and Suriname, who are playing in the top tier for the first time. Suriname earned their spot after winning the Division 2 event earlier this year. However, their build-up has been hampered when a number of their squad were refused US visas.

Bermuda and Canada will start as clear favourites as they both have recent exposure to one-day and Twenty20 internationals. Although matches between the six leading Associates are officially classed as ODIs, this meeting won't carry that title as the ground hasn't received ICC approval.

Canada, along with USA, enter the tournament having taken part in the West Indies domestic competition. However, USA continue to flounder and currently find themselves languishing in World Cricket League Division 5.

Canada will be without familiar names, Rizwan Cheema, John Davison and Geoff Barnett. Cheema couldn't make the tournament, as well as Canada's trip to the West Indies last week, as he didn't have the right travel documents.

Davison told Cricinfo that neither he or Geoff Barnett, who both play for Mosman in the Sydney Grade competition, were contacted regarding their availability for this tournament.

For Argentina and the Cayman Islands this will be a good opportunity for them to gauge their preparations for the WCL Division 3 tournament in January as the two countries aim to climb the world ladder.

The Cayman Islands showed in Toronto two years ago what they are capable of, pulling off an upset victory against Canada, while Argentina's recent WCL successes mean both these sides must not be underestimated. For Suriname this will be a trip into the unknown, but will provide a valuable learning experience.