Scotland's cricketers will be among the first to use Dubai's new state-of-the-art academy when it opens late next year.

ICC chiefs have already announced that the 2011 World Cup qualifying tournament will be staged in the UAE, where the multi-million dollar project is well under way.

Roddy Smith, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, has revealed that the Scots will complete their preparations at the new academy which includes a 25,000-seater stadium and indoor arenas.

Smith said: "The stadium is well on the way to completion and we're told the entire cricket academy will be ready to open late next year.

"That will tie in very nicely with our preparations for the World Cup qualifiers. I'd imagine we'd go out there for a few weeks either in late 2008 or early 2009 to prepare."

The Scots were scheduled to face Namibia in an Intercontinental Cup match in Windhoek on March 27, but it will now be played from April 4-7.

nTwo of Scotland's most promising players have been handed a dream shot at learning from some of Europe's top coaches after being invited to the ICC's Centre of Excellence next year, writes Mark Woods.

Charlie Buchannan Smith, who plays for Grange and Loretto School, and Nick Farrar of Kinross, will join 26 others at a five-day camp in La Manga, Spain.