Ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup qualifying series in Rome, Italy slated between July and October, London-based Nigerian cricketers have begun training at the home of cricket, Lords Cricket Club.

Chairman, Nigeria Cricket Association (NCA) Dr. John Abebe, who recently returned from England, disclosed this to THISDAYSports yesterday in Lagos.

He said the cricketers, numbering about 15, trained every Saturday at the Lords Club ground and are being supervised by assistant national team captain Uche Ugbimi who is on scholarship at the Lords Club.

"The cricketers, about 15 of them train every Saturday at the Lords Ground and are being supervised by Ugbimi. The motive is to keep them in shape, harmonise their playing pattern and achieve cohesion preparatory to the competition in Rome," the NCA boss said.

Dr. Abebe added that aside the London-based cricketers; there are other players in Canada who are also keeping themselves in shape for the tournament.

The NCA boss disclosed that the foreign-based players would later be joined by a number of home-based players who would be selected from a yet to opened camp in Lagos.

"Our aim is to ensure that we take a very strong squad to Italy. which is why we want to ensure that home based players joined their colleagues in London, where they would have opportunity to play on astro stuff," he added.

Dr. Abebe stressed that arrangement is on to allow coach Ewa Henshaw, the ICC West Africa Development officer to join the team in London for two weeks to assess the fitness level of the players.

Prominent among players already training in Lords Club are Morris Asielve, Bunmi Olufawo, Shina Okoya, Dotun Olatunji and member of the Ahuchogu Cricket playing dynasty.