Navdeep Poonia's remarkable ascendancy will continue today when he is named in the Scotland squad for their one-day international against Pakistan next Tuesday.

Just a week ago, the 20-year-old Poonia was preparing for a Warwickshire 2nd XI game at Knowle and Dorridge. A century in that game, followed by a half-century on his first-team debut on Sunday, however, h ave accelerated the progress of the student and he is now on the brink of a full international appearance.

Poonia, a hard-hitting opening batsman, still has long-term dreams of representing England but, in the meantime, has his heart set on a place in the Scottish World Cup squad.

With the European Championships coming up later in the summer, he should have plenty of opportunities to impress.

Poonia may not make the final team for Tuesday even if he is selected. Warwickshire's Twenty20 Cup campaign begins at Northampton the same day and his excellent debut against

Nottinghamshire has put him in line for inclusion in the Bears' team. In the event of both sides requiring him, Warwickshire would take precedence.

Meanwhile, South African Paul Harris will arrive at Edgbaston for a trial later this week. The 27-year-old left-arm spinner, who plays for Northern Titans, was disappointed to be overlooked for the tour of Sri Lanka. He is now considering turning his back on his country and signing as a Kolpak player in county cricket.

His short-term appeal is obvious. With Ashley Giles and Daniel Vettori injured, Alex Loudon called up by England and the Edgbaston pitches turning square, Warwickshire are in urgent need of an experienced spin bowler.

Harris, who finished seventh in the Supersport Series bowling averages with 49 wickets at 21 apiece last season, would certainly help. Whether the club would be interested in the longer-term is not so clear.

However, Harris has made it clear he wouldn't be interested in a short-term deal. He insists that joining the club would mean the end of his international aspirations and feels that such a commitment warrants a longer-term arrangement.

"I am going to Warwickshire on Thursday. There has been no talk of me signing a contract at this stage," Harris said. "If anything comes of it, I will have a big decision to make but if I do go down the Kolpak route, then Warwickshire are going to have to make it worth my while.

"It would mean me giving up my right to play for South Africa and that would be a big decision to make. I haven't had the best of luck with the national selectors so far. I was passed over for the Sri Lanka tour, which did not exactly fill me with confidence."

Harris' views are intriguing. While it is correct that, in theory, registering as a Kolpak player would mean renouncing international ambitions, in practice it does nothing of the sort.

There is little to stop Harris, or the likes of Lance Klusener, from registering as a Kolpak, showing the selectors what they are missing, then making themselves eligible for international cricket again. Harris can have his cake and eat it, which may well be to the benefit of Warwickshire.