The qualifying tournament of the 2011 Cricket World Cup gets underway in South Africa on Thursday with lots at stake.

Twelve ICC Associate Member countries are vying for four remaining places in the quadrennial extravaganza to be held in the Indian subcontinent.

Defending champions Scotland take on fierce rivals Ireland in the inaugural match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, in what will be a repeat of the 2005 final.

The other teams are Canada, Oman, Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, Netherlands, Bermuda, UAE, Denmark and Afghanistan. Altogether 54 matches will be played in eight venues over 19 days.

ICC President David Morgan said the top six finishers in this tournament will be given ODI status "for the next four years at least." "For top Associate and Affiliate Members this is probably the most important 19 days in any four-year cycle and it will determine whether they qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup and where they stand in global scheme of things," said Morgan.

"This is the culmination of a long pathway giving each of our 94 Associate and Affiliate Members the chance to take on the very best in the world at the highest level.

"While finishing in the top four is the main aim, the top six teams will win ODI status for the next four years at least as well as book a place in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier and gain automatic qualification in the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10, which starts in May," Morgan added.

Gopichand, who is now coaching Saina, said more than the courts connected to institutions like CCI, the need of the hour was to develop public courts/grounds for all sports to encourage youngsters in taking up these games.

"Although infrastructure has improved and performance of Indian players gone up, we need to develop hundreds of courts all over the country where all can come and play. That's the way to widen the base in any sport," he said.

Gopichand said there's no point in blaming lack of facilities for not doing well. "The basic principle is no matter what there's no excuse in losing." On a more optimistic note, he said the country may not have to wait for two decades in unearthing another All-England champion as was the case when he won the coveted men's singles title in 2001 after Prakash Padukone's hour of glory had come in 1980.

Padukone also said the fact that five Indian men's players are now in the world's top 50 and Saina is in the top 10 among women showed things were getting better.

"But we need to have more people in top 50 and I hope Saina will win the All-England," the Bangalore stalwart said.

CCI President Badal Mittal said as the club's courts have been renovated with new floorings and increased ceilings, international badminton would return to the venue in South Mumbai soon.