Scotland plan to target Pakistan

Published May 20, 2007

GLASGOW, May 19: Scotland captain Ryan Watson, challenged his team to upset order of world cricket this summer with their first official victory over an elite nation. Pathways to that seminal achievement are not thin on ground, with Pakistan and India locked in for ODIs and meeting with West Indies in Ireland almost certain to go ahead.

Scots are ranked 13th in the world after Ireland's victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh at World Cup saw them parachuted from associate rankings on to ICC's official ODI ladder.

But such is Scotland's strong recent record against their peers, that one win over a full-ranking nation should be sufficient to enter that lofty domain.

Pakistan are first, in Edinburgh on July 1. Watson smashed 80 in a five-wicket defeat to them last June and believes they will never be more vulnerable than in present haunted form. Inzamam-ul-Haq has quit one-day cricket and lingering spectre of Bob Woolmer murder inquiry hangs over players.

Pending confirmation, West Indies await Watson's men in Dublin 11 days later, as part of quadrangular series with Ireland and the Netherlands, before India represent final chance for advancement when Rahul Dravid's side break from England tour to face to Scotland in Glasgow on Aug 16.

Watson reacted with delight of Pakistan match, which came as bonus after arrangement of charity international between Pakistan and India in Glasgow on July 3.

Watson is eager for kind of worldwide acclaim. “It's outstanding news we will have three games against full members this summer, and fact they will all be in conditions that we are used to is great from players’ perspective.”—Agencies