Namibia next up for Scotland in ‘critical year’

Ayr anm Edinburgh to host ties

Scotland coach Grant Bradburn last night admitted success in 2017 is vital to help secure a meaningful fixture list for the national side.

The Scots, who have just eight days of action scheduled this summer, will step up their World Cricket League bid when they host Namibia in two crucial 50-over matches in June.

Bradburn’s team must finish in the top four of the eight-team tournament to earn a place in the qualifying event for the 2019 World Cup.

They are fourth with six matches remaining and Bradburn said: “This is a critical year for us as success in 2017 will present real opportunities for Scotland to advance to a higher level of ICC fixtures and funding.”

Scotland, though, appear to have missed their chance of gaining Test status as they languish in sixth place in the Intercontinental Cup – 50 points behind leaders Ireland.

The winners will face the bottom ranked Full Member nation with Test status up for grabs.

Scotland will attempt to kick-start their campaign also against Namibia in June.

The dates and venues for the Namibian fixtures were announced yesterday with the four-day I-Cup clash going ahead at Cambusdoon, Ayr, from 6-9 June and the one-day matches taking place at The Grange, Edinburgh, on June 11 and 13,

Scotland’s only other confirmed fixtures for the 2017 summer are two matches against Sri Lanka for which they must travel to Beckenham, Kent, on 21 and 23 May.

It will be the first time that the Scots have played Sri Lanka since the 2015 Cricket World Cup, when the latter won by 148 runs.