Drummond: we can shock the World

Drummond, appointed skipper after Gavin Hamilton quit last week, leads the Saltires into the six-team tournament in the Netherlands.

His youthful side open against the hosts on Thursday and also face Ireland, Kenya, Afghanistan and Canada.

The Scots have just two survivors – Gordon Goudie and Neil McCallum – from the side that came sixth in the World Cup qualifier last year.

They have also been hit by a string of call-offs with Dewald Nel, Majid Haq, Ryan Watson, Josh Davey and Hamilton all out. But defiant Drummond insists his team are on a mission to reclaim their place at the summit of associate cricket.

The Carlton all-rounder declared: "Teams like Ireland and Afghanistan have gone ahead in recent seasons and it is one of my priorities to address that situation."

Scotland, top of the rankings in 2005, have slumped to fifth among the non-Test countries, with Kenya and Peter Drinnen's Dutch also ahead.

But the Scots showed their potential with a stunning win over India A on Wednesday and Drummond added: "I like the balance we have in the side and we are developing a positive dynamic.

"There is a real determination to play good attacking cricket and a belief that we can win every time we go on the field.

"We know we are going to have to work extremely hard because all these countries are evenly matched and games are won and lost on extremely small margins nowadays.

"If we play with enough intensity throughout every game there is no reason why we shouldn't win."

Moneeb Iqbal and teenager Ollie Hairs were last night confirmed as replacements following the late withdrawal of Haq and Davey.

Squad: G Drummond capt, R Berrington, E Chalmers, G Goudie, O Hairs, O Hussain, M Iqbal, N Laidlaw, D Lockhart, R Lyons, N McCallum, G Maiden, P Mommsen, M Parker, F Watts.