Zainullah Ihsan: From Afghan Refugee to Scotland's T20 World Cup Dream at 19

In one of the most heartwarming stories to emerge from international cricket, Scotland have named 19-year-old Zainullah Ihsan in their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. The young seamer's journey from an unaccompanied asylum seeker to a potential World Cup debutant represents the transformative power of sport.

From Tapeball Cricket to the World Stage

Zainullah Ihsan's cricketing journey is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Afghanistan, the teenager arrived in the United Kingdom as an unaccompanied asylum seeker, having never played formal cricket—only tapeball cricket was part of his sporting experience.

After being granted refugee status in 2022, Ihsan joined GHK Cricket Club in Glasgow, where his raw talent quickly caught the attention of Scotland's cricketing establishment. The paceman became eligible to represent Scotland last year and has since impressed at youth level and for the Scotland A squad.

A Well-Balanced Squad for India

Steve Snell, Scotland's head of performance, expressed his enthusiasm for the selected squad and Ihsan's inclusion in particular.

"The coaching staff, selectors and I are all really excited about the squad that has been picked. We feel it's well-balanced and caters for a lot of different scenarios and challenges that the team will face in India."

On the young Afghan-born seamer, Snell added:

"There's obviously a great opportunity for Zainullah Ihsan, and whenever he's played at youth level or for the 'A' squad he's shown an exciting range of skills and bowled at genuine pace. We're delighted for him and excited to see how he performs on his first international tour."

Experience Meets Fresh Talent

The Scotland squad features a blend of experience and emerging talent. Captain Richie Berrington leads a contingent of 11 players who featured at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Scotland secured victories over Oman and Namibia before a narrow defeat against Australia.

Notable Inclusions

• Finlay McCreath – Uncapped talent earning selection
• Oliver Davidson – Rewarded for his tremendous work ethic
• Tom Bruce – Former New Zealand international adding experience

Snell praised Davidson's commitment:

"Oli Davidson has worked tirelessly at his skills and shown tremendous desire and work ethic in recent months to improve, and he also thoroughly deserves his call-up."

Selection Challenges

Hampshire's Scott Currie was ineligible for selection after appearing as a substitute fielder for England during their T20 series against Ireland last year—a reminder of the strict eligibility rules governing international cricket.

Scotland's Unlikely Path to the World Cup

Scotland's presence at the tournament comes through an unexpected route. Despite failing to qualify through the traditional pathway—losing to Jersey and Italy in qualifying—the Scots were handed a late call-up after Bangladesh decided to boycott the event.

As the highest-ranked team (14th in the world) not already at the tournament, Scotland have been placed in Group C, taking Bangladesh's spot.

Challenging Group Stage Fixtures Ahead

Scotland face a demanding schedule in India, with fixtures against some of cricket's most formidable opponents:

The clash against England promises to be a particularly charged encounter, while the rematch against Italy—the team that contributed to Scotland's qualifying woes—adds extra spice to the group stage.

Full Scotland Squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Main 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

Travelling Reserves: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis

Non-Travelling Reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride

Looking Ahead: Scotland's World Cup Ambitions

With a squad described by Snell as "full of high-quality cricketers ready to perform," Scotland will be eager to prove they belong on cricket's biggest stage. The inclusion of Ihsan adds not just bowling firepower but also an inspiring narrative that transcends sport.

"All the players are really excited to take on the best in the world and grasp the opportunity that has been afforded to them. They are keen to make an impact on the big stage."

For Zainullah Ihsan, whatever happens in India, his story has already become one of cricket's most compelling tales of 2026—a testament to resilience, opportunity, and the universal language of sport.