Cambridgeshire bowler Ajaz Akhtar believes the side's youngsters can propel them to success in this year's Minor Counties Championship.

Cambs have already qualified for MCCA Knockout Trophy quarter-finals where they will play Berkshire on 15 June.

Their first three-day league match is against Hertfordshire at Bishop Stortford, starting on Sunday, 8 June.

Akhtar told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "The three-day game allows our youngsters the freedom to play."

The former captain continued: "The county is looking in good shape.

"We had bit of a freak loss against Lincolnshire in the first [Trophy] game, but we said we'd win our next three games and we did, and now we're just two games away from Lord's in the one-day competition."

If you can win your first three-day game it really does put you in a good position Cambridgeshire bowler Ajaz Akhtar

The 39-year-old admitted success in the Championship would depend on more than the quality of the Cambridgeshire squad.

He said: "All the sides are very even these days because of the various age rules and professional restrictions rules.

"It really does depend on which team puts the runs together, which team can avoid the weather and complete the games, and which team has a bit of luck.

"You really could end up top of the division."

Ahead of the trip to Bishop Stortford, he said: "Hertfordshire are always competitive, but I think we've had the better of the results against them in the last few years.

"If you can win your first three-day game it really does put you in a good position for the rest of the five games you've got coming up."