'Have a feeling USA will finish in the top two' - Shahid

USA's squad may lack the experience and preparation that other teams have had coming into the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier, but they certainly aren't lacking in confidence. Fast bowling spearhead Hammad Shahid told ESPNcricinfo, on the eve of the team's opening match against Nepal, that he has no doubt USA will qualify for next year's ICC World Twenty20 in India.

"We're going to finish in the top two," Shahid said. "We have a good young side with talented guys. We needed a young team from the last tournament but we didn't have a young team. That's why we finished 15th out of 16, but this time we're going to finish higher than that. It's just my feeling. I haven't played with this many young and talented guys in a while. We have a good chance to win the whole thing."

USA finished runner-up to Canada in the ICC Americas Division One championship in May and their only match since then was a five-wicket win in the warm-up against North West Warriors interprovincial side on Monday. Their subsequent warm-up scheduled for Tuesday at Bready was washed out, denying the team much-needed match practice.

The newest member of the USA squad, Alex Amsterdam, only arrived in Belfast on Thursday morning after having trouble securing a visa while star batsman Steven Taylor pulled out two weeks ago after securing a Caribbean Premier League contract. Shahid said that even though Taylor's absence hurts the team, they have enough depth to make up for it.

"It does affect the team and the top order," Shahid said. "He's played here before and scored a lot of centuries. The other guys are coming along nicely but missing Taylor is a big factor. I think Adil Bhatti in the top order and Shiva Vashishat, they'll be key to our run-scoring and taking over Taylor's spot because they are hard-hitting batsmen and run between the wickets really well."

Vashishat top-scored in USA's successful chase against the Warriors with an unbeaten 30. According to Shahid, the former USA U-19 captain Vashishat has also lifted the fielding standards on his debut senior team tour and his presence in the outfield could have a ripple effect on the squad.

"He makes a big difference. He's quick and can stop a lot of boundaries, take good catches. He's just quick and energetic in the field. In our warm-up game, he took a brilliant catch on the boundary that stopped a six and it was one I don't think a lot of people would have done. It's a young side and I think our fielding is the main key of any tournament and we didn't have a fielding side the last time we played in the qualifiers. This time I think our fielding will win us a couple of games."

The biggest news in USA cricket over the last month was the ICC's decision to suspend the USA Cricket Association for a third time in a decade. However, unlike previous suspensions, the national teams have been allowed to continue competing at ICC tournaments for now. Shahid says the administrative issues have not caused any distractions to the squad and they are focused on performing well in Ireland.

"We don't worry about the board. We just worry about playing the game as hard as we can and getting to the World Cup. That's our number one goal. I just want the fans to support us until the end. We're going to do well and we're going to make it to the World Cup."