GROS ISLET, March 23: Departing coach Andy Pick believes Canada can improve despite losing all three matches at the World Cup. They were humiliated in losing by seven wickets to Kenya but improved against England and gave New Zealand a big scare in Group C.

“There's potential for growth in Canadian cricket that isn't there in other countries,” Pick told reporters.

The problem is funding, an issue Pick is well aware of.

The Briton is returning home to coach the England under-19 side again because Canada can only afford to give him a new two-year contract and he wanted a three-year deal.

As associate members, Pick feels money worries will continue to hold them back but that World Cups can only help.

“If the ICC are looking to expand the top group of teams ... it is essential we play in these competitions,” he said.

A lot of their best players may well have featured in their last World Cup, however.

Captain Davison hit a 23-ball fifty against New Zealand on Thursday but is now 36 while paceman Anderson Cummins came back for another World Cup tilt at the age of 40 having played for West Indies in the 1992 tournament.

Former Guyana left-arm spinner Sunil Dhaniram was impressive but the fork-lift truck driver is now 38, although he has an heir apparent in 26-year-old Kevin Sandher who bamboozled Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming and Peter Fulton.

Also on the plus side, 23-year-old opener Geoff Barnett offers promise with the destructive hitting he has honed playing for Central Districts in New Zealand.—Reuters