Scotland are “absolutely ready to go” at the T20 World Cup after their last-minute invite – provided there are no hiccups with flights and visas ahead of their planned travel to India.
The side will take Bangladesh’s spot at the 20-team tournament from February 7 after the Asian nation refused to play games in India due to political tensions.
Scotland will join Group C, alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and tournament debutants Italy, as the next-highest country in the ICC’s T20I rankings not to have already qualified.
The team face a race against time ahead of their World Cup opener against West Indies in Kolkata on the first day, although Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade told Sky Sports News that all players are available and a kit is now sorted.
Scotland have taken Bangladesh’s spot at the T20 World Cup
Lindblade, whose side will play England on Valentine’s Day, with that game starting at 9.30am UK, said: “There is terrific excitement but also a lot to get done in a very short period of time.
“The team is absolutely ready. We have been doing winter training but certainly need to get on grass and acclimatise to conditions in India, which are very different to here in Edinburgh at the moment.
“Cricket is a 365-day-a-year sport. We have had players around the world playing franchise cricket so we are ready to do Scotland proud.”
Berrington leads experienced Scotland team
Richie Berrington will captain a 15-strong squad that includes 11 players who were part of the 2024 World Cup squad in West Indies and USA, with the selection made by new men’s head coach Owen Dawkins.
Richie Berrington (left) and Chris Greaves (right) were both part of Scotland’s squad in 2024
Zainullah Ihsan is the sole first-time call-up, with the Afghan-born fast bowler having recently qualified to play for Scotland, while Tom Bruce, Finlay McCreath and Oliver Davidson will all travel to India after being involved in T20 and ODI squads during the last 12 months.
The squad selection is subject to all player and staff visa applications being approved, with two travelling reserves also selected along with three non-travelling reserves in case late changes are required.
Scotland’s T20 World Cup squad: Richie Berrington (captain), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal.
Travelling Reserves: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis. Non-Travelling Reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear.
‘Touch and go’ but Scotland ‘confident’ they will make it
Lindblade added: “The opportunity to be at a World Cup in India, cricket’s heartland, was a fairly easy decision for the players, although maybe slightly longer conversations with the families before they leave. Everybody is ready to play.
Scotland came close to reaching the second round of the previous T20 World Cup in 2024, only to be knocked out on net run-rate
“Trying to get a team out of Scotland and to India in less than seven days does come with challenges – flights and visas are the biggest things for us. If we get those, we will have a team out by the weekend.
“There are times it will be touch and go but I am confident. We are relying on the ICC to work really hard with us. We have a WhatsApp group that goes for 21 hours a day. I have a small team but this is when great teams shine.”
Scotland finished fourth in the European Qualifier as Netherlands and Italy took the two spots available for that region in the T20 World Cup, ahead of third-placed Jersey.
However, Scotland impressed in the previous T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA in 2024 and may well have beaten England in the group stage had rain not intervened, after reaching 90-0 from the 10 overs possible in Barbados.
Rain washed out Scotland’s game with England at the 2024 T20 World Cup with the associate nation in a decent position
They also challenged Australia before defeat to Mitch Marsh’s side saw them eliminated in the group stage on net run-rate with England advancing ahead of them.
“It is an opportunity for us to play against the best teams in the world,” Lindblade admitted. “Hopefully some upsets will happen along the way as that’s what creates drama and memories. We are going to give it our best shot.
“We are there to play our best and move through the stages. Not having the same preparation as other teams does take a little bit of the pressure off but equally we know we will put pressure on ourselves to get the best outcome for Scotland.”
Could Pakistan join Bangladesh in missing World Cup?
Pakistan will decide by Monday February 2 whether to participate in the T20 World Cup, after disagreeing with the ICC’s move to bring Scotland into the tournament in place of Bangladesh.
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who met with prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, wrote on X that they had held a “productive meeting” over the World Cup issues.
“He [Sharif] directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table,” Naqvi said. “It was agreed the final decision [on Pakistan’s participation] will be taken either on Friday or next Monday.”
Naqvi added: “You can’t have double standards. You can’t say for one country [India], they can do whatever they want, and for the others to have to do the complete opposite.
“That’s why we’ve taken this stand and made clear Bangladesh have had an injustice done to them. They should play in the World Cup, they are a major stakeholder in cricket.”
Pakistan, a nation which also has strained political relations with India, are scheduled to play their World Cup games in Sri Lanka.
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