January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Which Bermuda team will show up to play?
Cricket squad is capable of beating anyone, but also capable of losing to anyone
Which Bermuda team will show up to play?
Here James Whittaker t reporting from South Africa takes a look at all 12 teams taking part in the ICC World Cup Qualifier and assess their chances of making it to the big time.
Group A
Ireland
Most pundits' favourite to win the tournament, Ireland have dominated associates cricket over the last few years.
They were the top performers at the 2007 World Cup, beating Pakistan and Bangladesh in an historic tournament. They went on to qualify for the World 20-20 tournament and won the four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup.
They were in poor form coming into the tournament but warm-up wins against UAE and Afghanistan at the weekend saw them back to their best.
The Irish have gone with an experienced squad packed with county players like William Porterfield, Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan.
Star Player: Boyd Rankin - The towering 6ft 8ins pace bowler will cause problems for anyone.
BDA Sun prediction: First
Scotland
Winners of this tournament in 2005, the Scots are among the favourites once again.
Their experience in England stands them in good stead, though the conditions here will be very different to what they are used to.
A string of poor results in their warm-up matches, including defeat to Kenya at the weekend, could mean confidence is low.
But all their big guns - including Gavin Hamilton, who was capped at Test level for England - are in the squad and they will feel they should qualify.
Star Player: Ryan Watson - Scotland's Zimbabwe born skipper is a powerful middle order batsman with an ODI century to his name as well as an 80 against Pakistan on debut.
BDA Sun prediction: Second
Canada
Bermuda's 'local' rivals Canada have had some epic battles with Gus Logie's men over the past few years.
Bermuda has just about got the better of the Canadians on balance. But with all their big name players including swashbuckling batsman John Davison (one of the few Canadian born players in the side) back in the squad they will be hopeful of making the top six and renewing their ODI status
Star Player: John Davison - Scored the fastest century in history at the 2003 World Cup against West Indies and, even at 38, is one of the most destructive batsmen in the game.
BDA Sun prediction: Seventh
Namibia
Much is expected from Namibia, who come into this tournament on the back of an impressive Intercontinental Cup campaign, where they lost to Ireland in the final.
They've been playing in the South African amateur league and know the conditions well. They beat Bermuda on Saturday in their final warm-up game by a comfortable six-wicket margin and will be among the main contenders for a top four spot.
Star Player: Gerrie Snyman - One-time opening bowler converted into a destructive batsman, he hit a world record 17 sixes, scoring 196 in a limited overs clash with UAE two years ago.
BDA Sun prediction: Fifth
Uganda
Uganda have had a mixed bag of results over the past few years. They've beaten Kenya and almost beaten Bangladesh in 20-20 fixtures, but lost to Oman, Denmark and Namibia and scraped into this tournament as the 12th team out of 12 to qualify.
They did beat Bermuda once in 2007, in a brief one-day-series that ended tied 1-1.
But the chances of them qualifying for the Super-8s and a chance to repeat the feat are limited.
Star Player: Kenneth Kamyuka - The pacy opening bowler was top wicket taker in qualifying for this tournament, also weighing in with valuable runs down the order.
BDA Sun prediction: 12th
Oman
One of the few teams in this tournament who Bermuda have not played in recent times, Oman are an unknown quantity.
They are regarded as outsiders but can point to recent wins against Uganda, Namibia, Denmark and the UAE as evidence that they have a chance to at least reach the Super-8s.
Star Player: Sultan Ahmed - The Pakistan born wicket-keeper batsman has a reputation as a quick-scoring middle order batsman.
BDA Sun prediction: Ninth.
[[In-content Ad]]Group B
Bermuda
On paper, Bermuda are the third seed in the group. But it is probably fair to say of Irving Romaine's men that they are capable, on any given day, of beating or losing to any team in this tournament.
The results against the top associates have not been great over the past four years but with all the big guns - David Hemp, Lionel Cann, Janeiro Tucker, Irving Romaine, Glenn Blakeney - stacking up in the middle order the artillery is there to blow any bowling attack away.
If they can maintain their focus, there is no reason why Bermuda shouldn't come out of this group and challenge for a spot in the top four. Anything outside the top six would be considered a disappointment.
Star Player: Lionel Cann - On current form Cann is Bermuda's most potent weapon and his role in keeping the scoring rate at a decent level early on will be pivotal.
BDA Sun prediction: Fourth
Kenya
The favourites in Bermuda's group and possibly the competition, Kenya are no stranger to World Cup glory.
They reached the semi-finals when the competition was held here in South Africa in 2003 and are widely regarded as powerhouses of the Associate nations.
Their recent form has not been great however. They were thrashed 5-0 by Zimbabwe and lost a series of warm-up games against South African club and university sides in the run-up to this tournament.
Star Player: Steve Tikolo - Averaging over 30 after more than 100 One Day Internationals, Tikolo - even at 37-years-old - is still one of the most dangerous players in the tournament.
BDA Sun prediction: Third
The Netherlands
Traditionally one of the strongest Associate nations, The Netherlands has qualified for the past three consecutive World Cups.
They comprehensively beat Bermuda in a one-off ODI last year and have generally had the better of Gus Logie's men over the past few years.
They also qualified for the 20-20 Cricket World Cup and will be among the favourites to make it to the real thing. They have a clutch of exciting young county players, including Worcestershire's 19-year-old opener Alexei Kervezee.
The Dutch can be inconsistent however and even contrived to lose to Italy in a 50-over match last year.
Star Player: Ryan ten Doeschate - almost certainly the best player in the tournament, averaging more than 50 with the bat. The Dutch success or otherwise depends to a large extent on the form of the Essex all-rounder.
BDA Sun prediction: Fifth
UAE
Should the UAE really be known as Pakistan B?
They hail from Dubai but half of their squad is actually from the sub-continent.
Even so, it may be flattering them somewhat to call them Pakistan B - most of their players would struggle to get a game for top league sides in their home country.
That said, they have had some decent results at Associate level including a 4-0 sweep over Bermuda a few years ago.
That series win was revenge for the Emirates side after Bermuda beat them to qualification at the tournament in Ireland in 2005. The teams meet again in the tournament opener today.
Star Player: Saqib Ali - big hitting batsman who scored a huge century against Ireland in the intercontinental cup last year.
BDA Sun prediction: Eighth
Afghanistan
A team built up largely of refugees, that once used downed military helicopters as changing rooms, Afghanistan's participation in this tournament is a sporting miracle that has attracted the world's attention.
Those who like their stories Hollywood style, with a fairytale ending, will be praying for the Afghans to make it all the way to the World Cup.
Bermuda fans might want to see a bit more gritty realism, however, with the winning streak (three successive tournament victories) that has taken the war-torn country this far, coming to an end in Potchefstroom.
They are certainly outsiders here, as their huge defeat against Ireland in a warm-up match on Sunday demonstrated.
Star Player: Hamid Hassan - a fast bowler who allegedly has a 90mph Yorker in his armoury.
BDA Sun prediction: Tenth
Denmark
Denmark's best chance of causing an upset sailed when their premier fast bowler Amjad Khan was selected to play for England against the West Indies.
The Kent fast bowler, who has dual citizenship, could have turned an ordinary team into a real threat, but he opted to switch to England and played in the Test series earlier this year.
Denmark did beat Bermuda, however, in 2007, and will be looking to repeat the feat this time
Star Player: Frederik Klokker - the skipper and top batsman, Klokker has first class cricket experience with Derbyshire.
BDA Sun prediction: 11th
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