Bermuda skipper David Hemp is excited about this side's trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 scheduled from 13 to 24 March.

The tournament will see 16 teams from across ICC's five regions competing for the remaining two places at the ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 which will be staged from 18 September to 7 October in Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele.

Bermuda are in Group A alongside previous ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2010 winners Afghanistan as well as Papua New Guinea, Denmark, Canada, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Nepal.

Hemp said ahead of the tournament: "Everyone who has been selected for the squad is excited about the tournament and looking forward to testing ourselves against some very good opposition. We've met all the sides in our group apart from Nepal so we're feeling good after plenty of practice and preparation on the island in the last few months."

The 41-year-old left-handed batsman has a strong belief in his side: "I believe that the squad does have a chance of qualifying.

"It is a good balance between experience and youth and there are numerous playing options with both bat and ball with several players possessing the ability to perform a variety of roles if needed. But like all tough competitions we will have to play to our potential if we are to progress to the finals later in the year."

Hemp is no fool to the fact that the biggest tests for the side will come from the top six Associates and Affiliates competing in the competition.

"The nature of Twenty20 cricket means that all the games against all teams will be a test, but in particular those against teams with ODI status and experience. This naturally includes Canada, Holland and Afghanistan who have been drawn in our group.

"That being said we have a style of cricket that I would say is a mixture of both the West Indian and the English style of playing cricket. It is quite uncanny how some players seem to adopt one style and whilst others another," commented Hemp.

Of the players to watch in the side, Hemp admitted Kamau Leverock, nephew of one of Bermuda's most famous former international cricketers, Dwayne Leverock, is a key prospect for Bermudian cricket.

"Kamau Leverock is a 17-year-old all-rounder, right-armed fast bowler and left-handed batsman. HE's currently at school in the UK and has been getting some experience in 2nd XI county cricket sides. Another couple of players to watch out for are Joshua Gilbert who is an off-spinner while Terryn Fray is a right-handed batsman who is currently attending college in the UK while playing for Bermuda," said Hemp.

The former Glamorgan batsman admitted it would be a huge thing for Bermuda to qualify once again for an ICC global event with the side last appearing in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in West Indies were Leverock Senior took one of the most famous catches of ICC Cricket World Cup history.

"It would mean an incredible amount, not only from a financial perspective but also from a cricketing one.

"I say this in light of the position that we currently find ourselves in having slipped away from both ODI and High Performance status which has naturally had a negative impact on funding. Qualifying for the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka would, like the ICC CWC 2007, create an excitement and rejuvenate an interest in the game again," concluded Hemp.