Bhutan fired up for WCL Div. 8

Bhutan captain Tshering Dorji is feeling confident alongside his coach Baba Sourjah ahead of the side's opening match against Vanuatu tomorrow in Kuwait for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 8.

"We've been working hard ahead of the tournament, despite Bhutan not having turf wickets or great cricket practice facilities but we don't let matters like that keeps us down," said Sourjah.

"Bhutan only has one artificial wicket and we play on a concrete pitch at a local school, so it's great to be playing on turf wickets," said Dorji, "So playing here is great especially with outfields that are far smoother than Bhutan."

Cricket is still fairly new to Bhutan but the side has a team that has worked its way through the youth ranks and are now the senior members of the squad.

"We've been playing cricket in Bhutan for now 12 years and the side is made up of a team that have been playing since the junior stage and the average age of the side is about 25. I'd say the ones to watch are the 19-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder Jigmi Singye and tall fast-bowler Lobzang Yonten," said Dorji.

The team have only played one of the teams here, Kuwait however Sourjah has been doing some investigation on Vanuatu ahead of the tournament. "Vanuatu played in Brisbane ahead of the tournament and that's where I'm based, so I had a friend go and have a look at the team for me ahead of heading here," said Sourjah.

"I always say to the side they need to execute their plans, it's not about analyzing the opposition it's about playing to the best of our abilities and skills," added the coach.

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Source - ICC