"Testing time" for League 2 sides as action resumes stateside

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Hit For Six!

Scotland and UAE have the chance to continue their strong League 2 runs, while the USA need a strong showing to make their push for an automatic Cricket World Cup Qualifier spot.

Moosa Stadium in Texas plays host to its first ever One Day International fixtures from this weekend, with the USA playing the first of two back-to-back tri-series at the venue in a stretch that could make or break their campaign.

Monank Patel's side sit in fifth on the seven-team table and look up to their opponents, both of whom could lay claim to being the form side in the competition.

Cricket World Cup League 2 Standings

Despite dropping to third as a result of Scotland's push, Ahmed Raza's UAE are on a strong run of their own, also sealing a spot to the T20 World Cup later in the year in Australia.

The side played 19 matches in just a 45-day stretch across February and March, winning seven of eleven League 2 fixtures on top of their exploits at T20 World Cup Qualifier A.

Telling icc-cricket.com about the stretch and juggling the to formats, Raza welcomed the cricket, but insisted the workload and managing two formats brought new challenges.

"I'm so happy to be playing cricket whatever format it is, but it's not easy, it takes a lot out of you, and skill-wise it's very difficult for batters and bowlers to adjust as well.

"Juggling between T20s and ODIs, it's very hard to schedule your preparation because we have a very big series against the USA and Scotland, so we really have to be working towards our 50-over games, but we have to keep an eye on the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup."

Video ICC Men’s T20WC Qualifier A 22 Feb 22 11:11

UAE v Nepal | Semi-Final Highlights | ICC Men’s T20WC Qualifier A

"A really testing time is going to be coming. Scotland, who are on a very good run in their World Cup League two campaign, winning four games away from home is never easy and you know they're going to be a tough opponent. And USA playing at home.

"We really have to be at our A-game to be pulling those games and getting those really important points."

The League 2 run home

Scotland have been forced to make several shuffles with no less than half a dozen players fulfilling county cricket commitments in the UK, while left-arm orthodox spinner Hamza Tahir will miss the team's final match for his wedding.

2021 ICC T20 World Cup hero Chris Greaves is a welcome addition to the squad, as well as Chris Sole and U19 Cricket World Cup representative Olly Davidson.

Only four days separates USA's final match of the series and the start of the side's next League 2 assignment, hosting Oman and Nepal.