Bermuda National Cricket Team have suffered a loss to a local cricket academy in Delhi in their preparations for ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League play-off. Bermuda could only manage 136/9 in 28 overs as Param Veer Chakra Cricket Academy chased down the target in 27 overs.
However, the Bermuda team was severely depleted with six first-choice players missing India trip due to visa issues. The visiting team had to call up guest players to fill up the spots.
In the first training camp match in Delhi’s Sanjay Farms on Monday, Marcus Scotland and Kamau Leverock scored 33 each while Terryn Fray hit 31. Pacers Jermal Proctor, Cejay Outerbridge and Leverock bagged a wicket each.
However, Bermuda coach Cal Waldron managed to find positives even in the defeat.
“It was good to get a first-hand look at Marcus Scotland and Chare Smith in action and see our players challenged in a different arena of conditions. We still have to improve on our performances, so it’s up to the players to make adjustments,” Bermuda coach Cal Waldron told The Royal Gazette.
Bermuda hit visa snag
However, England and Pakistan are not the only cricket team to face visa issues in India. As many as six Bermuda players were denied visas due to incorrect paperwork.
Captain Delray Rawlins, Tre Manders, Chris Douglas, Derrick Brangman, Zeko Burgess and Allan Douglas Jr missed the training trip to India due to visa issues.
They are now expected to arrive sometime next week after completing the paperwork.
“The players left behind is an unfortunate situation. But it’s definitely a learning situation to work towards it not happening again. Those players are missing out on the learning the others are experiencing. However, it has allowed others to get a chance to perform and put a stake to their selection of inclusion,” Bermuda coach told The Royal Gazette.
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India Training Camp
In the training camp in Delhi, Bermuda players will have two sessions a day to get acclimatised to the conditions. The camp will also help them make technical adjustments and learn from the coaches.
“They have had coaches here assessing them and giving feedback, plenty of batting and a variety of bowling in the nets,” Bermuda coach said.
The Bermuda national cricket team will play three more matches during their training camp in India. Param Veer Cricket Academy in Delhi’s Sanjay Farms are playing host to the team.
Bermuda competed in the 2007 Cricket World Cup and played against India as well. However, since then, they have failed to qualify. The team came close to qualifying for the T20 World Cup 2024. But they lost out to Canada on Net Run Rate despite scoring the same number of points in the Americas qualifiers.
The team will head to Malaysia next to compete in the ICC Men’s World Challenge League play-off later this month. Bermuda are in Group A along with Italy, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. They will begin their campaign against Italy on Feb 22. Top three teams from each group will play in the Super Six Stage. The Tip four will then qualify for the 12-team ICC World Cup Challenge League.
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