Canada ready for Kenya series

Canada's national coach, Andy Pick, was upbeat ahead of his team's trip to Kenya, a tour he sees as an ideal opportunity to nail down the starting eleven for the team's World Cup campaign in March.

"As time ticks down to the World Cup, we have to look at and identify roles for the personnel in this team, to see who fills each role best," said Pick. "The importance of the World Cricket League with a Twenty20 Championship place in to be won (and the $250,000 from the ICC that goes with it) means we must go out and try to win. We can't use this event to experiment with players."

Some of the Associate coaches control player selections, but this is not the case in Canada. Pick admitted: "It is frustrating that we cannot name our World Cup squad now. Time might be spent on a player or players in Kenya who are not named for the World Cup. It's very frustrating, but the bottom line is it is very prestigious to qualify for the Twenty20."

Looking beyond the Kenya squad, Pick believed that there would be a few names added to the World Cup party aside from those in the squad for this trip. The opening batsman, Geoff Barnett, contracted to New Zealand's Central Districts while Ian Billcliff has been excused the trip because his wife is expecting a baby.

Pick added: "We can look at the encouraging performances in South Africa and look to players to step up again and look for continuing improvement through to the World Cup."

Twelve of the 13 named for South Africa are in the 15-man squad for the Tri-Nations and WCL series in Kenya. Given limited facilities for other players to prepare adequately, especially those outside the Greater Toronto area, it seems imperative for the core squad to do at least as well in Kenya as in South Africa.

That still leaves some additional steps to climb when it comes to the likes of New Zealand and even England. But the core players have been working hard and deserve their chance at the World Cup. Even so, there may be some disappointments for some of the current squad when it comes to the World Cup.