By RON FANFAIR
Canadian cricket captain John Davison is confident that his team can qualify for the World Cup if it can compete in the upcoming qualifying series without sustaining injuries to key players.
Opening batsman Desmond Chumney is still hobbled by minor knee surgery he underwent three weeks ago while all-rounder Sunil Dhaniram has suffered myriad injuries on recent tours. George Codrington, who was recalled to the national team after a five-year absence when medium-pacer Ashish Bagai pulled out because of injury, is also injury prone.
"The key for us is not to have any serious injuries to players we are counting on to deliver," said Davison shortly before the team left here on Monday night for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy tournament for Associates in Ireland in July.
"We have a very balanced side and I don't see why we should not finish among the top five."
The top five teams in the 12-team tournament advance to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
Davison, who will marry his longtime Kiwi sweetheart Sally Liggins in Queensland in September, plans to continue his association with Canadian cricket even if the team fails to qualify for the World Cup.
"I will like to do some coaching here when I am around," said Davison who will play league cricket in his Sydney homeland during the North American winter. "The length of my involvement here, however, depends on the financial resources that are available to the Canadian Cricket Association."
Canada will play four practice matches in England before going to Ireland on June 27 for the ICC Trophy tournament that starts on July 1. The practice matches are against Somerset (June 22), Gloucestershire (June 23), a Combined Somerset/Devon side (June 24) and Seaton Cricket Club (June 26).
Deemed nationals (they are eligible to represent Canada even though they were not born here and have not acquired Canadian citizenship) Haninder Dhillon, Pubudu Dassanayake and Osinde Henry did not leave with the squad on Monday because they did not receive their required travel documents. They are expected to join the squad in England later this week.
Toronto Cricket Club medium-pacer Andrew Chatterpaul has been placed on stand-by if any of the three players is unable to make the trip.
Canada will play practice matches in Belfast against Uganda (June 28) and Denmark (June 29) before the series starts.
Canada is in Group "B" with defending champions The Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Oman and Papua New Guinea. Group "A" comprises host country Ireland, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, the United States and Bermuda.
Canada plays its first match against Namibia on July 1 at Woodvale. The national side will then meet Scotland (July 2), Oman (July 4), The Netherlands (July 5) and Papua New Guinea (July 7).
The final is scheduled to take place on July 13.