Scotland: `We deserve to be at World Cup'

Scotland it deserves to be in the cricket World Cup.

It also thinks it can advance to the Super 8 second round, manager Euan McIntyre said on the team's arrival in Barbados on Monday.

Scotland in Group A with the world's top two teams, South Africa and defending champion Australia, plus the Netherlands.

"We have a dream and we believe we can defeat one of the major teams and gain a place in the second phase of the World Cup," McIntyre said. "In World Cup events there are always upsets and shocks and we believe we can spring one."

"We are under no illusions. We know it will not be easy, but we plan to fight hard, really hard and give it our best shot," he added.

Scotland for the World Cup by winning the 2005 ICC Trophy, and McIntyre said it was there on merit.

"I believe if you don't give the lower teams a chance we will never see the game grow across the globe," he said. "When we play in the cricket World Cup we have something to look forward to. It gives us a chance to lift our game and we will see a rise of the game in Scotland."

Scotland be based in St. Kitts for the World Cup, but will play warmup matches at Three Ws Oval against Sri Lanka next Monday, and Bangladesh the following Thursday.