Saleem Mukuddem is reaping the rewards following a successful season with both bat and ball.

The South African born all-rounder was recently included in a squad of 34 players who will be put through their paces over the winter months in preparation for next year?s World Cup qualifying tournament on local soil.

The 31-year-old Western Stars player shattered Charlie Marshall?s 23 year-old colts? Cup Match record for the highest individual score last July and helped Stars retain the Central Counties Cup.

Mukuddem also experienced a small dose of first-class cricket when he suited up against the visiting Barbados national team last September.

Now, the exempt company senior account manager, who qualifies for the national squad under residency rules, is bracing himself for his newest challenge.

?I?m very excited about it,? he said yesterday. ?This will provide me with an opportunity to elevate my game to another level. And I?m really looking forward to the opportunity. It is just going to be a whole different ballgame.?

Mukuddem rose to the challenge against the visiting Bajans, performing admirably on his international debut.

?I?ve previously played against several individuals who have gone on to represent their country at Test level. But in terms of playing against an entire team of professionals, that was my first experience . . . and I liked it!

?I am just so eager to see how things pan out because there is just so much opportunity at stake and I am an optimist,? said Mukuddem, adding: ?I liked the way they (Barbados) came out and approached the game. The way they warmed down afterwards . . . they were just so professional in every aspect of the game.?

Mukuddem is currently keeping himself in shape playing soccer for Lobster Pot in the Bermuda Football Association Commercial Division. However, he said, if he has to commit himself more to cricket then he will be prepared to make the sacrifice.

?I think the early preparations will be centred around physical fitness. But I hope it doesn?t get to a position whereby I will have to make a choice because basically I started playing football before I started playing cricket,? he added.

?A lot of other local cricketers also play football and so I don?t think the Bermuda Cricket Board would want to get themselves into that sort of position. But I still have to be mindful later into the season of not getting myself injured.?

The right-handed batsman is also backing new national team skipper Clay Smith to the hilt.

?I think something like this (Smith?s appointment) will spark change,? said Mukuddem. ?I think Clay has done a fine job at St.David?s in terms of motivating the younger players and encouraging them to play good cricket.

?Now it?s just a case of whether he can get that same type of respect and commitment at the national level. But in most cases a captain?s job is always made easier when they are surrounded by good players.?

Reflecting upon the past cricket season, Mukuddem said overall he was pleased.

?I had a very short season because I went back home for three or four weeks and missed a few games,? he said. ?But I still think I enjoyed one of my better seasons. I felt good but my training could have been better and as a team we didn?t do that well this season.

?But Cup Match was just an amazing experience. It was just an awesome experience . . . I just wish I could go out and do it all over again next year. But you can only be a colt once!?