Coetzer upbeat despite Afghans test
Scotland will launch their World Cup qualifying campaign against bogey team Afghanistan in Bulawayo on 4 March.
The Scots will also face hosts Zimbabwe in a tough group that contains Hong Kong and the team that finishes second in World Cricket League division two.
Grant Bradburn’s side have lost seven and won just two of their 50-over matches against the Afghans since the sides first met in 2009.
However, the Scots, who secured a morale-boosting win over Zimbabwe last summer, are seeded to progress to the Super Six stage of the qualifying tournament from which two teams will claim a place at next year’s World Cup in England.
After two warm-up matches against Papua New Guinea and Ireland on 27 February and 1 March, the Scots face the Afghans and then Hong Kong on 6 March, the qualifiers on 8 March and finally Zimbabwe on 12 March.
Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer said: “It is an opportunity for us to make a real statement by qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup.
“I feel that if this group can perform the way I know they can then we’ve got a real good shot at going all the way. Having never played in Zimbabwe before it’ll be a new challenge but one we are looking forward to.
“It would be a fantastic honour to once again play in a World Cup.”
Scotland step up their preparations for the qualifiers today when they take on Ireland in their first match of a Tri-series in Dubai also featuring hosts UAE. With Coetzer unavailable, the side will be skippered for the first time by Richie Berrington.