Scotland Name Squad For The Men's Under-19 World Cup, 2026

Scotland have announced a 15-man squad for the men’s Under-19 World Cup, showing two new signings – Shlok Thaker and Shreyas Tekale, ahead of the worldwide event next month. The team will be captained by Thomas Knight as Scotland ready for a challenging campaign in Zimbabwe.

New Inclusion: Shlok Thaker and Shreyas Tekale Called Up

Scottish youth cricket has received another boost with the selection of Shlok Thaker and Shreyas Tekale for the first time into Scotland’s Under-19 World Cup team.

Head coach Keegan Russell praised the duo for their perseverance and growth:

Shlok Thaker was impressive upon his return, coming back stronger for having missed out on the ICC Europe Qualifier. From the feedback, he worked on his fitness and skill development to return as an effective bowler than ever.

Shreyas Tekale caught the selectors’ eyes with fine performances during the under-17 tour of Ireland in the Celtic Cup. Having not been in the extended squad at the start of the year, he got a deserving spot due to his continuous performance and determination. Both players had missed the successful ICC Europe Qualifier campaign in Dundee earlier this year.

Leadership and Team Overview

Thomas Knight will captain the Scottish side at this year’s men’s Under-19 World Cup, which will be led by a well-balanced squad blending experience with emerging talent. The selectors have been keen to stress long-term development but also competitiveness at the highest level.

Preparation Schedule Preceding the Tournament

Scotland will start with a training camp at Potchefstroom in South Africa from December 30, then head for Zimbabwe, where they will play preparation matches against India in Bulawayo and Bangladesh in Harare.

Men’s Under-19 World Cup Group C Challenge

Scotland have been placed in Group C of the 16-team competition against some strong opponents like England, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe.

Fixtures Group Stage

January 15: vs Zimbabwe, Harare – Opening game

vs Pakistan (Harare)

vs England (Harare)

As part of the last edition of this competition, in 2024, Scotland finished their group associated with the tournament where they were last but came through at the end of the tournament with a victory against Namibia, who were in the final playoff for 16th position.

Coaches Vision for Expectations

Leading a youthful group to a global event is both exhilarating and challenging for Keegan Russell.

“This tournament is an opportunity to challenge ourselves, learn from elite opposition, and hopefully surprise a few bigger teams. It’s also about development and gaining experience so invaluable on the international stage.”