IT speaks volumes for the resilience of Majid Haq that he will fly to the World Cup in the Caribbean on Monday, as an integral member of Scotland's squad, blessed with the conviction that he has transcended the criticisms of those who argued that he wasn't fit enough to shine in international cricket.

As recently as the ICC Trophy in 2005, the Paisley-born all-rounder found himself excluded from the tournament, on the grounds that he apparently lacked the requisite team ethic and attitude. In the intervening period, he has knuckled down, shed some excess poundage and embraced the esprit des corps which has been one of the most heart-warming features of Craig Wright's side during the build-up to their gruelling tour of duty in the West Indies.

On Wednesday, as Haq contemplated the prospect of imminent jousts with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - they are the prelude to the main course of Australia, South Africa and Netherlands - he was justifiably proud of his contribution to the Scots' cause at the recent World Cricket League in Kenya. Pressed into service as an opener, he scored a couple of half-centuries, including an international career-best 71 in the significant defeat of the hosts, who reached the semi-finals of the last global competition.

Yet this redoubtable little customer, who ripped through Durham's middle order to take four for 36 on the Saltires' debut at Chester-Le-Street in 2003, isn't so naïve as to pretend that his compatriots' amateur status isn't an obstacle to them. They go into the tussle with Australia with a realistic acceptance that, in sporting terms, it equates to David tackling Goliath without a slingshot. Haq might excel in the art of spin, but he doesn't indulge in platitudinous sound bites.

As somebody with tremendous respect for Mike Hussey, the Australian run machine who used to play at Majid's club, Ferguslie, his words carry a resonance for those romantic souls who may imagine that the baggy-green brigade have suddenly become ripe for the plucking.

"I think Mike sums up the professionalism and the importance of what it means to people like him to represent their country. Year after year, he battled away, ignored the fact he wasn't being selected and knuckled down to the task of racking up big scores," said Haq, who already, at 24, boasts 43 caps, despite his period in the wilderness. "His perseverance had paid dividends in the end, and there is a lesson for all of us who are involved with the associate nations. We've heard about the problems which the Australians have suffered recently, and how they will be missing individuals of the calibre of Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and now Brett Lee, while there are injury concerns over the likes of Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke.

"We just have to ignore all of that, though, and appreciate that, whichever 11 guys their coach picks, we will have to produce the greatest display of our lives and they will have to under-perform for us to win "This isn't being defeatist, and we have to derive inspiration from the memory of how Bangladesh turned over Ricky Ponting's team in Cardiff two years ago - they were well worth their success - but the bottom line is that for us to beat Australia would be like the Faroe Islands beating Brazil at football. It might be even bigger than that: the equivalent of Scotland beating Brazil when Berti Vogts' was in charge.

"We have shown in the last couple of years that, on our day, we can pose a threat to anybody; we had Pakistan in trouble at 93 for 5 chasing 200-plus last summer. One more wicket and who knows what might have happened? But we recognise the size of the task and they might be even more fired up for us because they have lost six of their last seven games and have surrendered their No.1 world ranking to South Africa.

"We certainly couldn't have asked for a bigger challenge than being drawn in the same group as that pair, but the only way we can raise our standards is to meet the best head-on and that is what awaits us in the Caribbean."

There is no hubris in Haq, nothing beyond a healthy appreciation that he and his colleagues have enjoyed their triumphs in spite of, rather than as a consequence of, the present system in Scotland.

The sports minister, Patricia Ferguson, clearly felt it was fine to leap on the passing band-wagon when she arrived at The Grange last Wednesday, oblivious to the insistence of Cricket Scotland's chief executive, Roddy Smith, that Wright's battalion cannot advance any further as amateurs.

Ferguson has effectively ensured that it will remain the case for the foreseeable future, but Haq is bullish in his argument that the Scots, Irish, Bermudans, Canadians and Dutch merit being at the World Cup, irrespective of what some in the Sky commentary box have asserted.

"It's not rocket science that, as long as there are only nine of 10 sides playing cricket, it can't consider itself a global sport, so I fully support the ICC's efforts to expand the game and I am confident you will see some shocks when the competition starts," says Haq. "You can either develop beyond the status quo or risk stagnating and I don't believe that is an option, so this is a crucial few weeks coming up for all the Associate members and we are 100% determined to show we are worthy of being in the mix.

"This isn't about damage limitation, it's about being confident in our abilities and not being overawed when we cross the boundary rope. We have a fantastic opportunity and the boys are genuinely excited at what lies ahead.

None of us are apprehensive at all."

As to Haq's plans, and whether he has any interest in emulating several of his team-mates by progressing on to England's county circuit, circumspection rules. "I would love to become a full-time Scottish player that is impossible in the present climate but, if a county came along with an offer, I would have to think about it," says Haq. "Let's take one thing at a time, though. For 15 of us, the only factor which matters between now and the end of March is doing ourselves justice and making Scotland proud."

You suspect that, whatever the odds, Majid can and will be pivotal in that process.