Saltires coach Pete Steindl has called a halt to his squad’s close season to begin preparations for the Intercontinental Cup final.

Tournament officials have announced the match against Afghanistan will take place over five days from December 2 at the Dubai International Stadium. And the Scots, who have named county players, Aberdeen’s Kyle Coetzer and Dewald Nel, in a 14-man squad, will start their preparations immediately.

Steindl said: “It’s little more than a month since our season ended and the squad haven’t had much of a break.

“But the cup final is less than eight weeks away and we need to get them back in and get as much indoor work done as we can.

“Strength and conditioning work has already begun and we’ll have our first full squad session on October 24.

“We will then get out to Dubai in good time to acclimatise and get some match practise.”

Steindl was forced to overlook Ewan Chalmers, Moneeb Iqbal and Forfarshire’s Ryan Watson who have a mixture of university and work commitments but is thrilled to welcome back Durham player Coetzer.

He added: “Kyle loves playing for Scotland and showed his value in this competition when he helped us secure a vital win against Kenya.

“He brings vast experience at the highest level as does Dewald Nel and I’m delighted with the depth in the squad.”

Qasim Sheikh, who scored two centuries earlier in the competition, has been controversially omitted but Grange allrounder Gregor Maiden returns for the first time since breaking a finger during the WCL in July.

The Scots will fly to Dubai nine days before their match with the Afghans when they will attempt to win the trophy for the first time since 2004.

SCOTLAND SQUAD: G. Drummond, F. Watts, R. Flannigan, K. Coetzer, P. Mommsen, R. Berrington, N. McCallum, G. Maiden, M. Haq, M. Parker, R. Lyons, S. Smith, G. Goudie, D. Nel.