The Cuba Baseball Federation has published a shortlist of 70 possible players that may play in the U.S.-based World Baseball Classic contest that runs from March 3 to March 20, Cuba's sports press said on Tuesday.

Short-listed players will be trained by a team lead by Benito Camacho, Higinio Velex and Humberto Arrieta, helped by 18 assistants and medical staff. The 45th National Series will be halted starting Feb. 12, so that pre-Classic training can begin.

Teams from 16 nations will take part in the Classic, organized by the U.S. Major Leagues and the Players' Association, and supported by the International Baseball Federation and the World Anti-Doping Agency. The teams will be placed in four groups.

Cuba is in group C, playing the Netherlands, Panama and Puerto Rico, starting March 7 in Puerto Rico. Group A -- Japan, China, Chinese Taipei and South Korea -- will play starting March 3 in the Tokyo Dome. Group B -- the United States, Canada, Mexico and South Africa -- will play in Phoenix in the U.S. state of Arizona. Group D -- the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Italy and Australia -- playes in Orlando, the United States.

The Cuban league will start again on March 24 and finish on May 16 with post-season play-offs. Cuban teams will play in the Superleague from May 27 to June 15, where five teams will play 12 games to prepare for the Central America and Caribbean Games.

Source: Xinhua