Bermuda captain Janeiro Tucker is eager to claim one of the six places on offer for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014.
The 38-year-old is leading his side in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2013 (WT20Q), which runs from November 15th to 30th, and a top six finish would see the side travel to its first ICC global event since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
“We are there to win it. I think that is most important. You don’t go into a tournament not planning to win. But ultimately we are trying to finish top six, which is our realistic goal. If we were to fall short of top six, we would hope to finish top eight.
Bermuda finished 13th in the 2012 version of the World Cup Twenty20 Qualifiers and the side has been preparing hard for the event, which will see it placed in Group B with Afghanistan, The Netherlands, Scotland, Kenya, Denmark, Nepal and Papua New Guinea.
“The preparation has been pretty good. We’ve put in a great deal of work to try to sort out a few issues with our cricket that we’ve had. But we are being proactive and working on those little issues and trying to correct them before we get to Dubai.
“We have really been working on our bowling and fielding. I think the batting should take care of itself, but the main area is definitely the fielding and bowling part of our game. We need to bowl in the right areas.”
“We haven’t targeted anyone specific in Group B. We feel that to finish in the top six you have to be able to beat everyone really. So we haven’t targeted any team as yet but that may come once we arrive in Dubai and train on the facilities and take in the atmosphere.
“Then we can start to look at the other teams, although our goal is to win every game we play. Afghanistan is one of the best Associate teams so I guess they will be one of the toughest matches in our group. But I look at it like this, they are all human like us, and in a Twenty20 game anyone can beat anyone,” explained Tucker.
While many may remember the Bermuda of old, which included the famed Dwayne Leverock, the side has some key players that Tucker believes fans should keep an eye out.
“We have Dion Stovell, a very good batsman, and we’ll be looking at him to get us going early. Then also in the batting department we will need good performances from Lionel Cann, David Hemp and myself.
“In the bowling department we have still got a number of new guys that are just starting to play international cricket. So as far as bowling, it is going to have to be a real team effort with everyone bowling in the right areas and helping us out with that aspect.”
Bermuda begins its campaign on November 15th at Sharjah Cricket Stadium when it takes on Scotland in Group B.
Bermuda: Janeiro Tucker (captain), Kamal Bashir, Derrick Brangman, Christian Burgess, Lionel Cann, Allan Douglas II, Christopher Douglas, Terryn Fray, David Hemp, Malachi Jones, Kamau Leverock, Tre Manders, Jacobi Robinson, Dion Stovell, Kwame Tucker.
