The motivation for the Associate nations in T20 WC has never been bigger: Preston Mommsen

The motivation for the Associate nations at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has never been bigger with four teams from Round 1 set to qualify for the Super 12 stage. From a Scotland perspective, they are guaranteed three games in Round 1 against Bangladesh, Oman and Papua New Guinea, but there is the potential for five more games on TV if they can finish in the top two in their group.

That is not just a goal for the players, it provides exposure for Scottish cricket and you find that people back home will watch the games, you can inspire the next generation. It’s the whole trickle effect with sponsors, funding etc.

It goes a long way to helping grow the game. I was involved in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand and the format of that tournament meant that there were quite a few fixtures so we were on TV for six weeks and the cricket following back home definitely picked up.

It’s hugely important, not just for the players but for the health and growth of Scottish cricket as a whole that they get through to the next round.

Build-up for Scotland has been almost perfect, says Mommsen

I think the build-up for Scotland has been almost perfect. They have been together for a good couple of months now. There was a great home series against Zimbabwe which regrettably they should have won. But at the same time, in a roundabout way that may have been a blessing and a bit of a wakeup call to international cricket. You would rather lose then, than in the first round.

They have come out to Oman and played clinical cricket in the World Cricket League and have been on the money in their warm-up matches. The positive thing is that I don’t think the team is quite firing on all cylinders yet. Kyle Coetzer for instance, has had a few starts but is probably due a big score and hopefully that will come in Round 1.

The goal has to be to finish in the top two and I’m confident they will. Then it’s about going and expressing themselves in the main event. I’m sure they will cause a few upsets because there is some great individual talent and collectively they are playing really well.

I fully expect Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to both go through. If the games were in different conditions, I might not but the conditions are very similar to what they would be used to at home.

Papua New Guinea were the team who most impressed me in the World Cup qualifier. At this stage in their development they are best suited to T20 cricket and they seem better able to cope with the conditions and the extreme heat than most of their rivals.

And Oman on home soil will be a real threat because they have a variety of spinners who will come into effect early on and they will look to exploit the conditions as best they can. I think the Scotland-Oman game is going to be huge in determining the outcome of that group.

Group A looks like the tougher group to me, and it will be a real slog for the Netherlands, Namibia and Ireland, potentially looking to join Sri Lanka in qualifying. Ireland showed what they were capable of in a warm-up win over Bangladesh and while they can be a bit hot and cold, they have a lot of experience on the world stage so I expect them to be very competitive.

The Netherlands will have Ryan ten Doeschate in his swansong in Dutch colours. For me, he is the poster boy of Associate cricket and it’s great for the game that he is here at 41 years old and still hungry to put on the Dutch shirt. I can see them feeding off the energy he will bring.

I actually think that Namibia might have something up their sleeve and make it through with Sri Lanka. Over the last 24 months they have been sensational. They have won 17 of 21 T20Is and that 80 percent win-rate is phenomenal. David Wiese is a great addition to associate cricket and we know how destructive he can be with bat and ball.

The key I think is that in associate cricket, we know that anyone can beat anyone else on their day so you can’t take any result for granted. Scotland actually have a 100 percent record against all their opponents in T20Is, but it’s very different going into the must-win environment of a World Cup. That will be the big test for them and all the associate teams in Oman and the UAE.