Scotland are “absolutely ready” to go to the T20 World Cup after receiving a last-minute invitation, provided there are no issues with their flights or visas ahead of their planned trip to India.
Bangladesh will take part in the 20-team tournament from February 7 after the Asian nation refused to play in India citing political tensions.
Scotland will join England, West Indies, Nepal and tournament debutant Italy in Group C as the next highest-ranked nation in the ICC T20I rankings that have not yet qualified.
Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade told Sky Sports News that all players are available and kits are being prepared, although the team faces a race against time ahead of their World Cup opener against West Indies in Kolkata on the opening day.
Scotland replace Bangladesh to qualify for T20 World Cup
Lindblade, who will face England on Valentine’s Day with the match starting at 9.30am UK time, said: “We’re very excited but there’s a lot to do in a very short space of time.
“The team is fully ready. We have been in winter training but we will certainly have to adapt to the conditions in India on the grass, which are very different from here in Edinburgh at the moment.
“Cricket is a sport that is played 365 days a year. We have had players from all over the world playing franchise cricket and we are ready to do it with pride for Scotland.”
Berrington leads an experienced Scotland team
Richie Berrington will captain a 15-man squad, including 11 members of the 2024 World Cup squad to be held in the 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 the 2024 Scotland squad
Zainullah Ehsan is the only first-time call-up, with the Afghanistan-born fast bowler recently eligible to play for Scotland, while Tom Bruce, Finlay McCreath and Oliver Davidson will head to India after being part of the T20 and ODI teams over the past 12 months.
Team selection is subject to visa applications being approved for all players and staff, with two traveling reserves and three non-travel reserves also being selected 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 Ethan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Mansey, Safian Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Whale.
Traveling Reserve: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis. Non-traveler reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Teer.
‘Touch-and-go’ but ‘confident’ Scotland will succeed
Lindblade added: “The opportunity to play in the World Cup in India, the capital of cricket, was a fairly easy decision for the players, but the conversations with their families before they leave may be a little longer. We’re all ready to play.”
Scotland came close to reaching the second round at the last T20 World Cup in 2024, but were eliminated on net run rate.
“Trying to get a team from Scotland to India within seven days comes with its challenges. Flights and visas are the biggest challenge for us. If we can secure those, we will be able to send the team by the end of the week.”
“Sometimes it can be touch-and-go, but I am confident. We are relying on the ICC to work together and work hard. We have a WhatsApp group that is active 21 hours a day. My team is small, but this is when great teams shine.”
Scotland finished the European qualifiers in fourth place, ahead of Jersey in third place, with the Netherlands and Italy securing the two spots available in the region for the T20 World Cup.
However, Scotland performed well at the previous T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and America in 2024, reaching the Barbados tournament with a total of 90-0 from 10 overs and could have beaten England in the group stage had it not been for the rain.
The match between Scotland and England in the 2024 T20 World Cup was canceled due to rain, leaving the associate nations in a decent position.
They also challenged Australia, but lost to Mitch Marsh’s side and were eliminated in the group stages on net run rate, with England advancing on.
“This is an opportunity for us to play against the best team in the world,” admitted Lindblade. “Hopefully there will be an upset down the road because that’s what creates the drama and the memories. We’re going to do our best.
“We are here to do our best and progress through the stages. Not having the same preparation as the other teams takes some pressure off, but at the same time we know we will put pressure on ourselves to get the best result for Scotland.”
Is it possible that Pakistan also misses out on the World Cup along with Bangladesh?
Pakistan disagrees with the ICC’s move to include Scotland in the tournament instead of Bangladesh and will decide by Monday, February 2, whether to participate in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, wrote to X that they held a “productive meeting” on World Cup issues.
“He (Sharif) directed us to keep all options on the table and work it out,” Naqvi said. “We agreed that the final decision (on Pakistan’s participation) will be taken on Friday or next Monday.”
Naqvi added: “There should be no double standards. It cannot be said that only one country (India) can do whatever it wants and other countries have to do exactly the opposite.”
“That is why we have taken this stand and made it clear that Bangladesh has been treated unfairly against them. They should be in the World Cup and they are a major stakeholder in cricket.”
Pakistan, which also has tense political relations with India, is scheduled to play its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
Watch the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup live from February 7th to March 8th on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports and stream without a contract.
