Accent on youth as Scotland ICC league squad unveiled

SCOTLAND'S selectors have named a youthful 15-man squad for the ICC World Cricket League Division One, to be held in the Netherlands from 30 June to 10 July.

The squad has three players aged 20 and under and nine aged 25 or under. Gavin Hamilton and Ryan Watson are both unavailable due to work commitments, while Freddie Coleman is taking time off in the lead-up to the event to concentrate on finishing his school term which will provide opportunities for young batsmen Ewan Chalmers, Preston Mommsen and Josh Davey. Fraser Watts' excellent recent form in the domestic leagues earns him a recall. The remainder of the Scottish line-up contains the players who have recently concluded five games in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition.

"The World Cricket League will be a highly-competitive event, and it gives our players an excellent opportunity to test themselves against the other leading Associates," head coach Peter Steindl said of the selection.

"We have picked the squad with the future as well as the present in mind, so I am looking forward to seeing how the players cope with the tournament environment."

Scotland squad: Gordon Drummond (Carlton, capt), Richie Berrington (Greenock), Josh Davey (Middlesex), Ewan Chalmers (Watsonians), Gordon Goudie (West of Scotland), Majid Haq (Clydesdale), Omer Hussain (Clydesdale), Neil Laidlaw (York), Dougie Lockhart (West of Scotland), Ross Lyons (Carlton), Gregor Maiden (Grange), Neil McCallum (Grange), Preston Mommsen (Carlton), Matthew Parker (Forfarshire) and Fraser Watts (Carlton).