The 60 players hoping for a place in the Cuban team for the World Classic Baseball contest, which runs from March 3 to 20, began their training on Wednesday, local media reported.

"All the conditions are right and we are going to work hard to get these kids ready," Carlos Rodriguez, president of Cuban Baseball Federation said.

Manager Higinio Velez and head coach Benito Camacho will choose players to represent the Caribbean island and the Federation will publish the names five days before Cuba's first match: March 8's confrontation with Panama.

Trainers have divided the shortlisted players into two groups: one training in the Latinoamericano Stadium and the other in the Santiago Mederos facility, both in Havana.

The Federation is now seeking to set up friendly games with foreign teams, to add to the seven training matches that the hopefuls will play amongst themselves, some of which might be open to the public.

Cuba is part of Group C, whose other three members are Panama, Holland and Puerto Rico; the island which hosts the group's matches on the artificial grass of San Juan's Hiram Bithorn stadium. The Havana team will play Holland on March 9 and Puerto Rico on March 10.

Japan's Tokyo Dome hosts Group A: Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Japan and China including the first Classic game on March 3. The United States city of Phoenix hosts Group B: the United States, Canada, Mexico and South Africa. Orlando hosts Group D: The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy.

Source: Xinhua