Cricket Scotland has announced its Scotland World Cup Squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, with Afghan-born fast bowler Zainullah Ihsan making his first-ever international selection. The 15-man squad will participate in the international tournament scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka.
Zainullah Ihsan Makes Maiden Selection
Zainullah Ihsan is the lone uncapped player in the Scotland World Cup Squad. The fast bowler has recently qualified to play for Scotland and has made an impact at the youth and ‘A’ level with his sheer pace and all-round abilities.
Steve Snell, Head of Performance at Cricket Scotland, praised the young fast bowler’s inclusion:
“Whenever Zainullah has played at youth level or for the ‘A’ squad, he’s shown genuine pace and an exciting range of skills. We’re thrilled to see how he performs on his first international tour.”
First Squad Under New Head Coach Owen Dawkins
The selection of the team is the first major decision that has been made by the newly appointed head coach of the men’s team, Owen Dawkins, who took over the position last month. Dawkins said that the selection process was intense but very rewarding, considering that Scotland was included in the tournament at the last minute.
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Scotland was confirmed as a participant in the tournament only last week, as they replaced Bangladesh, who pulled out of the tournament due to concerns over their schedule.
Richie Berrington to Lead Experienced Core
Captain Richie Berrington will again lead the team at the T20 World Cup 2026, and 11 players from the Scotland 2024 World Cup squad in the West Indies and USA have retained their spots.
Several players are set to make their World Cup debuts:
Tom Bruce
Finlay McCreath
Oliver Davidson
All three have been regulars in Scotland’s T20 and ODI sides over the last year.
Rapid Preparations Before T20 World Cup 2026
With little preparation time on their hands, Dawkins admitted that the team faces some challenges but is confident that the side has what it takes to make an impact.
“It’s been a whirlwind forty-eight hours. While other teams may have had more structured preparation, we believe this squad has players capable of making a real impact.”
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The team had been undergoing a fitness program before the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two series in Namibia, and Dawkins believes that this will work in their favor.
Reserves Named Amid Tight Timelines
Because of the tight schedule and other requirements, Scotland have also included other reserves:
Travelling reserves: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis
Non-travelling reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear
The final squad is still pending visa approvals for players and support staff.
Scotland’s T20 World Cup Campaign Begins February 7
Scotland will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on February 7, marking a historic opportunity for the side on the global stage.
Full Scotland World Cup Squad
Squad:
Richie Berrington (c), 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
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