ICC Americas WCL Qualifying gets under way

Snellen Park in Paramaribo, Suriname, the venue of the ICC Americas WCL Division 3 Championship © Getty Images

International cricket competition kicks off in the Americas region today in Paramaribo, Suriname, with the start of the ICC Americas WCL Division 3 tournament. Twelve countries will be competing to claim a place in the ICC World Cricket League, due to commence in 2007, as well as looking to claim the title of cricket champions of the Americas.

The Division 3 tournament in Suriname marks the start of a seven month quest, with the Division 2 tournament due to be held in April 2006 in Argentina, with the final Division 1 tournament set to take place in Canada in August 2006.

Four teams - the hosts Suriname, the Turks & Caicos Islands, Brazil and Chile - are wrapping up final preparations for the Division 3 tournament, all intent on claiming the Division 3 title, and with it a passage to the Division 2 tournament in April.

Host nation Suriname will be keen to make an impression in front of their home supporters, and despite event preparation being severely hampered by rain in the weeks preceding the competition, have pulled out all the stops over the dry days leading up to the first game tomorrow in order to put on this international cricket event.

Their team, led by the experienced Alimoedin Nasrullah, will hope to take advantage of local knowledge of conditions, and local support, to put Suriname's cricket firmly on the map. With a team that shows a distinct blend of experience and youth, they will be aiming to improve dramatically on the 5th place finish in their previous and only ICC regional tournament experience in Panama in 2004.

Likewise the Caribbean islanders from the Turks & Caicos will be looking to move up the placings since Panama where they finished 4th, and are probably regarded as favourites to claim top spot in Division 3, and thus promotion to Division 2. The charismatic Turks team will undoubtedly continue to play their brand of positive and aggressive cricket, and led by a confident Wayne Williams, have their eyes fixed on a place in Argentina in April.

For Brazil and Chile, this tournament appearance marks a historic moment in their respective cricket histories, as they make their debut on the official ICC world cricket stage. It is without doubt an exciting time for the sport in both countries, and although perhaps thinking more of solid performances rather than total focus on first place, both South American teams can in no way be counted out of the reckoning.

Brazil, led by former English county player Matt Featherstone, have some dangerous players within their ranks, but will need consistently outstanding performances from these select few, backed up by the rest of an enthusiastic team, to pull off a fairytale debut.

Chile meanwhile, with wicket-keeper Guy Hooper at the helm, and consistently regarded as the second ranked South American cricket country, behind Argentina, over the last decade, have an extremely capable and committed squad, and it would ultimately be no surprise if they should finish the week with positive results throughout.

It promises to be a week of competitive and absorbing competition, and the event will undoubtedly prove to be a huge boost for cricket enthusiasts in Suriname especially.

Today sees the start of the tournament with pre-tournament favourites Turks & Caicos taking on debutants Brazil at the lovely Snellen Park stadium. Tomorrow, at the same venue, hosts Suriname will meet the other debutant nation Chile.