“We're confident we can win this tournament,” Canada's captain Ashish Bagai said before his side's departure for the Netherlands.

“We have trained extremely hard and the boys look sharp and hungry for success. We're not bothered as to how we're being perceived in this tournament. We've focused on our training and I'm happy with the commitment and hard work we have put into our preparations.

“The tournament in South Africa was very tricky and I'm under no illusions that the event in the Netherlands will be any different as every match will count. It's going to be interesting but tough and tension-packed two weeks in Amsterdam.

“What we need to do is to keep things simple and try to keep the best 11 bodies out there as we'll be playing six matches in 10 days. This is something some of the players might not be used to and may find their fitness levels being tested to the limits,” Bagai said.

Besides Bagai, Canada has retained Khurram Chohan, Umar Bhatti, Ian Billcliff, Geoffery Barnett and Sandeep Jyoti from the side that lost to Ireland in the World Cup Qualifier final last year. Three players who represented Canada in this year's Under 19 World Cup - left-arm spinner Parth Desai, all-rounder Hiral Patel and 16-year-old Nitish Kumar.

“I think we have got a good mixture of youth and experience. You always require experience in close matches and in tough competitions but I'm happy with the youngsters we have in the side. While the senior players have to guide the youngsters, we have to avoid bombarding them with too much information and instead try to give them a free-hand to show their mettle,” said Bagai.

“I believe it will be a close tournament as every side is capable of toppling the other. While saying this, Ireland will start as favourites as it has finished close to the top of every Associate tournament and will arrive in the Netherlands in the back of some useful games against Australia and the West Indies A,” added Bagai.

Canada squad:
Ashish Bagai (captain), Geoff Barnett, Rizwan Cheema, Ian Billcliff, Nitish Kumar, Sunil Dhaniram, Khurram Chohan, Umar Bhatti, Parth Desai, Zubin Surkari, Colvert Hooper, Sandeep Jyoti, Hiral Patel, Harvir Baidwan, Amarbir Hansra.