Heavy hitters John Davison and Rizwan Cheema could form one of the most destructive batting combinations at April's World Cup qualifiers in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Both players have been named in Canada's provisional squad of 30 with refugee Cheema having now been granted a special visa by Canadian immigration authorities to enable him to travel abroad with his team-mates this Spring.

The 30-year old Pakistan-born player made his debut for Canada during last August's Scotiabank tri-series with Americas rivals Bermuda and Test side West Indies at Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City, Toronto where he banged 89 off 61 balls against Chris Gayle's Windies.

Cheema also slogged a whirlwind 68 off 43 balls against Test side Sri Lanka during last October's Canadian Twenty20 quadrangular tournament which also involved Zimbabwe and Pakistan in Toronto.

Davison's claim to fame arrived at the 2003 World Cup where he smashed what was then the fastest century –(111 off 67 balls) in the tournament's history against the West Indies.

The middle order bat and off break bowler was appointed captain of Canada in 2004 and the very next year he grabbed the headlines again after taking 17 for 137 in a first class match ¿ the best match haul since England off spinner Jim Laker seized 19 for 90 against Austraila at Old Trafford in 1956.

Cheema, meanwhile, has been named among eight players expected to form the core of Canada's eventual –15-man World Cup qualifying squad that will travel to Sri Lanka to receive specialist coaching prior to April's World Cup qualifiers.

The Canadians are also scheduled to play ICC Full member Zimbabwe in four one day internationals (ODI) before arriving in South Africa where they have been grouped with Associate powerhouses Ireland and Scotland, Uganda and Namibia.

Zimbabwe beat Canada in a bowl-off in Toronto last October after the teams finished tied in an enthralling Twenty20 affair.

Pubudu Dassanayake, the former Sri Lanka Test player, is current coach of Canada.