Scotland can heal from racism report and reach next level - Shane Burger

The South African leaves for a post at Somerset after propelling Scotland to first place in the World Cup world of League 2.

"It's been incredibly difficult," Burger said of Cricket Scotland who was deemed institutionally racist. "But it also gave us the opportunity to examine how we manage the team on a day-to-day basis."

The organization is undergoing a complete restructuring following the publication of the Changing The Boundaries report last year.

"What I've been focused on is making sure this team keeps moving forward from a performance perspective," Burger told BBC Scotland.

"Winning is often what you're judged on, but success isn't always about winning, it's about allowing people to feel themselves in an environment, to ensure that there is a succession plan to advance them in their own careers.

"I'm sure the sport will still take time to heal, but there is an opportunity unit to be in a very good place within the next three to five years.

"I have no doubt not that the stakeholders behind the scenes are doing everything in their power to make sure he's in the right place."

'Scotland can mix and match with the best'

Having won 24 of their 36 one-day internationals in the League 2 World Cup, Scotland will follow up with a qualifying event in June and July in Zimbabwe, where 10 nations will compete for two places at the World Cup in India in October and November.

Scotland last appeared at the tournament in 2015, losing all six group matches.

"In my opinion, we are ready to take on the best in the world," Burger added. "On a consistent basis maybe not quite there yet, but, given more opportunities, I definitely think we can mix it up.

"When I arrived four years ago, one of the objectives was to become a full member nation. I think we are on the right track to achieve this. Covid has put a key in hand.

"You must play a lot of cricket you must be bloody young players, growing the team and growing the game in the country.

"We need more time and a bit more resource support.

"It's going to take a lot patience and it's going to take some really good people who have the ambition to move the sport in the right direction for the right reasons."