With just 11 days to go before the 2026 T20 World Cup begins, Cricket Scotland is operating in a state of high-octane chaos. After being officially invited last Saturday to replace Bangladesh; who withdrew following geopolitical tensions with co-host India, the 14th-ranked Scots are facing a logistical race against time that would make most professional organizations buckle.
Scotland’s inclusion has raised eyebrows, specifically because they failed to qualify on merit last July after losses to Italy and Jersey. However, the ICC’s decision to use T20I rankings as the fallback metric gave Scotland (ranked 14th) the nod over Jersey.
Visa process: The most sensitive hurdle remains the Indian visa process. While the ICC and BCCI have promised to expedite applications, particular focus is on fast bowler Safyaan Sharif. Born in Huddersfield to Pakistani-heritage parents, Sharif’s application is under "intense focus" due to the complex diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.
The visa piece is always slightly an unknown... whether you’ve got three days or 45. We are a team that is ranked 14th in the world, we are a strong team, and we are happy to step inTrudy Lindblade, Cricket Scotland CEO
Cricket Scotland named their 15-man squad on Monday, featuring significant changes from the 2024 edition:
The big inclusion: Tom Bruce, the former New Zealand middle-order batter (17 T20Is), has switched allegiance and brings vital experience to the top order.
The debutant: 19-year-old Afghanistan-born pacer Zainullah Ihsan receives his first international call-up.
The shock omission: Express pacer Chris Sole (90mph+) is absent, having stepped away from professional cricket to pursue a career in recruitment.
The ineligible star: Scott Currie remains unavailable until 2028 after being named as an official substitute for England in late 2024.
Scotland inherits Bangladesh's position in Group C, arguably one of the most difficult paths to the Super 8s.
| Match | Opponent | Venue | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 7 | West Indies | Kolkata | Opening Night under the lights. |
| TBD | Italy | Kolkata | A grudge match after Scotland's qualifier loss. |
| TBD | England | Kolkata | A "Battle of the North" on neutral soil. |
| TBD | Nepal | Mumbai | Likely a decider for the second spot. |
The kit crisis: CEO Trudy Lindblade admitted that the team is still hunting for a kit sponsor. If a deal isn't struck in the next seven days, the team will compete in their standard domestic playing gear.