Scotland aim for World Cup shock

Haq is looking forward to taking on cricket's star names

Scotland's Majid Haq believes beating Australia at the Cricket World Cup would be a massive feat despite the current slump of Ricky Ponting's side.

Haq will be part of the 15-man squad which heads for the Caribbean on Monday, where Scotland will also face South Africa and Holland.

"For us to beat Australia would be like the Faroes beating Brazil at football.

"In fact it might even be bigger than that - more like us beating Brazil when Berti Vogts was in charge," he joked.

Interview: Peter Drinen and Craig Wright

Scotland recently reached the final of the World Cricket League in Kenya, a performance which also earned them a place at the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in September.

And despite the size of the task facing them against Australia and South Africa, the new top ranked one-day side in world cricket, coach Peter Drinnen believes they are capable of giving them a game.

"If we can take early wickets, which I'm sure we can with the way we've been bowling, we might set a few nerves jangling and cause the likes of Australia and South Africa a few problems," he said.

"Teams are going out and giving it the gun really early in their innings and setting targets of 300, but you run the risk of losing early wickets.

"In the one-day game anything can happen and if we get it together we are going to be very dangerous - even against Australia. We have a game plan and hopefully we can stick to it."

He added: "You hear a lot about our amateur status but that doesn't wash with me or the players.

News of sportscotland's investment to specifically assist with (salary) costs has been a huge boost Cricket Scotland's Roddy Smith

"The players set themselves professional standards and if they stick to them they are going to have a good tournament."

Cricket Scotland, meanwhile, is to receive £336,300 from sportscotland to help develop the domestic game and fund the national team.

Scotland's Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson said: "The whole country is eagerly anticipating their performance in this World Cup."

Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith said the funding would boost efforts to raise cricket's profile in Scotland.

"In the three months leading up to the World Cup we have been required to make considerable financial outlays to cover salaries for our international players," he said.

"But the news of sportscotland's investment to specifically assist with these costs has been a huge boost."