The next step to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 begins this Saturday in Singapore with six teams competing in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 6 (WCL Div. 6).
The hosts will begin the tournament as favourites, although it is hard to predict who will finish in the top two and gain promotion to Division 5 due to be held in Nepal in February next year. The other teams taking part in the tournament are a diverse bunch, namely Bahrain, Botswana, Guernsey, Malaysia and Norway.
The matches are to be hosted on three grounds for the tournament – Kalang, Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) and the Indian Association.
Singapore coach and former Australia player Trevor Chappell is confident his side can do the business.
'I think we're fairly confident for this event, particularly since we're the home side,' he said. 'However, we can't underestimate our opposition. We only really know Malaysia as a team, and we had a look at Guernsey during its warm-up match, but we've got to concentrate on our strengths, one of which is knowing the conditions for playing here in Singapore.
'We have a strong batting line-up and I feel our bowlers have the ability to do well here.'
Winner of WCL Div. 7 Bahrain is also brimming with confidence ahead of the tournament after securing a solid win against a representative Singapore Cricket Club XI.
Its coach, former Pakistan Test and ODI fast bowler Mohsin Kamal, has a good feeling about the tournament.
'We've had a good two and half months since winning the last event in Guernsey and we've come here with only two changes to the tournament winning side from Division 7,' said Mohsin.
'With the humidity here it was important we came in early to acclimatise as it is different to Bahrain but I feel it won't affect us too much as a side.
'There are some good teams here, but we're only aware of Guernsey who we played in Division 7 so all the other matches will be new to us but we're confident we can make the grade and win promotion to the next division.'
Fellow WCL Div. 7 qualifier Guernsey also arrived early for the tournament to acclimatise while Botswana comes into this tournament having played a series of warm-up games in Sri Lanka.
The side played two matches against the Sri Lanka Cricket Academy and one match against the Sri Lanka Western Districts U23 side.
Botswana's newly appointed captain Omar Ali is looking forward to the event and hopes the Sri Lanka tour has given the side some sort of an advantage ahead of its first game on Saturday against Norway.
Omar said: 'Having been in Sri Lanka we've got used to humid conditions so it should help us here in Singapore.
'We've also faced Singapore before in Division 5 so we've got a decent knowledge of their side. However, I think the dark horses of this tournament will be the Division 7 qualifiers, Bahrain and Guernsey.'
Simon Taufel from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and five-time winner of the Umpire of the Year at the LG ICC Awards will be one of nine umpires officiating at the event, which will be overseen by match referee Brian Aldridge.