| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Amsterdam: Ireland begins the defence of their International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) title on Thursday with captain Trent Johnston looking for players to stake a claim to be in next year's World Cup squad.
The First Division of the WCL is the leading one-day tournament for teams outside the elite of Test cricket.
Ireland, who competed alongside the big boys at this year's World Twenty20 and gave Australia a run for their money at the start of the Aussies' tour a few weeks ago, begin the defence of their WCL title against former champions Kenya in Rotterdam on Thursday.
Meanwhile Canada, last year's losing finalist, play emerging cricket nation
Afghanistan and hosts the Netherlands face Scotland in Amstelveen.
"I think Phil Simmons (Ireland coach and former West Indies batsman) and the selectors are pretty happy with the side we have here," Johnston said.
"I think it is a good opportunity for the players to put themselves forward for place in next year's ICC Cricket World Cup squad," the 36-year-old Australia-born all-rounder added.
"We have probably got five or six of the regulars and rest of the guys are trying to put themselves up for further selection. We are in a sort of a rebuilding stage, I suppose, before the tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh."
Johnston said his goal for Irish cricket was clear. "I just want to keep Ireland at top of the Associate tree and keep knocking at the door of the big boys above us."
Canada captain Ashish Bagai was confident of going one better than in 2009.
"All the six teams are evenly matched so it is going to be a tough tournament but we believe we have enough gas in our tanks to finish at the top."
Last year the Netherlands beat England, now the champions, in a World Twenty20 match at Lord's and Dutch captain Peter Borren is well aware of the expectations of local cricket fans.
"It is a home tournament and obviously, at the back of our minds is the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 but at this stage the most important thing is to win the tournament," said Borren.
The top two sides from a series of round-robin matches will qualify for the final in Amstelveen on July 10 with the third-fourth place playoff taking place in Rotterdam on the same day.
