Scotland cancel Namibia tour

Scotland have cancelled their pre-season tour of Namibia. Their coach Andy Moles believes that playing against county sides would be more beneficial to their preparations for the ICC Trophy.

"Our whole focus this year is to finish in the top five in the ICC Trophy in Ireland in order to qualify for the World Cup in 2007," Moles told the Sporting Life website. "Namibia in no way resembles the playing conditions we will encounter in Ireland, so we are better off warming up in England."

Moles recently quit as Kenya coach, and Scotland are expecting him to take up the role of their coach by mid-February but the Kenya Cricket Association insist that he is under contract with them until the end of the month.

Sharad Ghai, the beleaguered KCA chairman, said: "He finishes his contract with KCA on February 28. He will spend this time handing over and then proceed to take up his new post in March."