Safyaan Sharif ready for Sri Lanka test

The young cricketer made a superb international debut by snapping up four Dutch wickets in Aberdeen last week and has been retained for the glamour match in Edinburgh on 13 July, which forms part of the ODI Tri-Series against the World Cup runners-up and Ireland.

It's a decision Sharif's club skipper Gowtham Rai agrees wholeheartedly with and he says the rookie is more than ready to display his skills against one of the world's top sides.

Rai said: "It fantastic news for Safi and everyone connected with Dunfermline. He really deserved it and they couldn't have selected him at any better time than now.

"He spent the winter playing in Pakistan and there is no doubt that the experience sharpened him up.

"Since he came back to Scotland he has been in tremendous form. This is a kid who was born to play cricket and I am sure he will flourish."

The Scots square up to Ireland at Citylets Grange next Tuesday before taking on Sri Lanka at the same venue the following day.

Carlton's Preston Mommsen has also been included in coach Peter Steindl's squad despite suffering a fractured finger against the Dutch. In addition, Steindl has recalled Watsonians batsman Ryan Flannigan in place of seamer Ally Evans.

Steindl said: "We are all looking forward to the challenges that Ireland and Sri Lanka will bring.

"We are aiming to improve on our performances from last week in Aberdeen and show similar fighting spirit."

Both matches are scheduled to start at 10.45am.

Scotland squad: G Drummond, capt, F Watts (both Carlton), R Flannigan (Watsonians), J Davey (Middlesex), K Coetzer (Durham), N MacCallum (Grange), M Haq (Clydesdale), G Maiden (Grange), R Berrington (Greenock), Gordon Goudie (Stoneywood-Dyce), S Sharif (Dunfermline), P Mommsen (Carlton), C MacLeod (Uddingston).