Scotland Name T20 World Cup Squad: ICC Working to Secure Safyaan Sharif's India Visa Amid Heritage Concerns

Scotland have unveiled their 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, with Cricket Scotland expressing confidence that all players, including Safyaan Sharif, will receive their visas in time despite concerns surrounding players with Pakistani heritage.

The announcement comes after Scotland's dramatic late invitation to the tournament following Bangladesh's withdrawal, leaving the squad with a remarkably short turnaround before their opening fixture against West Indies in Kolkata.

The Visa Challenge: Sharif's Heritage Under Spotlight

The spotlight has fallen on experienced seamer Safyaan Sharif, who was born in Huddersfield to a Pakistani father and British-Pakistani mother before relocating to Scotland at age seven. The complex diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have historically caused delays for Pakistani nationals and those with Pakistani heritage seeking Indian visas.

Cricket Scotland's Chief Executive Trudy Lindblade addressed the concerns directly:

"We are all committed to working with the ICC to make that happen. The visa piece is always slightly an unknown, and it doesn't matter whether you've got three days or whether you've got 45 days."

Lindblade emphasized the intensive behind-the-scenes work:

"Certainly that's been our focus in the last 48 hours: just getting those visas done so our players are all ready to go. They're all in the middle of submitting their visas and we will be there on the ground in India as quickly as we can."

ICC and BCCI Working Intensively Behind the Scenes

The ICC has reportedly been working "very, very hard" to ensure Scotland's smooth passage to the tournament. While acknowledging the limits of their control, Lindblade confirmed positive assurances from the governing body.

"They can only give us the assurances of the bits that they can control and, absolutely, of the bits that they control, we are working with them and obviously they're working with the BCCI and local people on the ground there."

Steve Snell, Scotland's head of performance, praised the ICC's support, describing them as "fantastic" in assisting with the hurried preparations. He added pointedly:

"I don't think we need to escalate that any further to get into the country, because you'd suggest that Scotland being invited to attend the World Cup and then not being able to get there wouldn't be a great look for anybody."

Fresh Faces in the Scottish Squad

The squad features three changes from Scotland's 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, where they narrowly missed Super 8s qualification.

Zainullah Ihsan: The Afghan-Born Prospect

The most exciting inclusion is 19-year-old fast bowler Zainullah Ihsan, who is in line for his international debut. Born in Afghanistan, Ihsan represents Scotland's investment in emerging talent and adds depth to the pace attack.

Tom Bruce: New Zealand Experience

Former New Zealand international Tom Bruce brings valuable experience to the middle order. The batter played 17 T20Is for the Black Caps between 2017 and 2020 before switching allegiance to Scotland last year, making his ODI debut for his new nation in August.

Finlay McCreath Completes New Trio

Batter Finlay McCreath rounds out the three new faces, replacing Oli Haris and Jack Jarvis from the previous World Cup squad, with Jarvis retained as a travelling reserve.

Notable Absences and Eligibility Issues

Express fast bowler Chris Sole is a significant omission despite his impressive pace, regularly clocking speeds in excess of 90mph. Sole, who featured in Scotland's last World Cup appearance and has played franchise cricket in the ILT20 and CPL, has not played professionally since late 2024 as he pursues a career in recruitment.

Hampshire seamer Scott Currie presents a more complex case. Despite playing three ODIs for Scotland in early 2024, Currie is now ineligible after being selected by England for their T20I series against Ireland in September. Under ICC regulations, his inclusion on England's official teamsheet renders him unavailable for Scotland until September 2028.

Interestingly, Scott's older brother Brad remains part of the Scottish squad, creating an unusual situation where siblings have diverged onto different national paths.

Tournament Schedule and Group B Outlook

Scotland face a demanding schedule in Group B, beginning with warm-up fixtures against Afghanistan and Namibia in Bengaluru on February 2 and 4 respectively.

Their competitive campaign opens against West Indies in Kolkata before facing Italy, England, and Nepal. The top two teams from Group B will advance to the Super 8s stage, giving Scotland a realistic path to tournament progression.

Contingency Planning in Place

Cricket Scotland has implemented prudent contingency measures, applying for visas for two travelling reserves (Jasper Davidson and Jack Jarvis) and three non-travelling reserves (Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, and Charlie Tear).

The governing body acknowledged the uncertainty in their official statement:

"The squad selection is subject to all player and staff visa applications being approved. Given the limited notice for Scotland's participation at the tournament and timescale for selecting players, two travelling reserves have been selected while three others will be non-travelling reserves."

Full Scotland T20 World Cup Squad

Main Squad (15):

• Richie Berrington (captain)
• Tom Bruce
• Matthew Cross
• Brad Currie
• Oli Davidson
• Chris Greaves
• Zainullah Ihsan
• Michael Jones
• Michael Leask
• Finlay McCreath
• Brandon McMullen
• George Munsey
• Safyaan Sharif
• Mark Watt
• Brad Wheal

Travelling Reserves:

• Jasper Davidson
• Jack Jarvis

Non-Travelling Reserves:

• Mackenzie Jones
• Chris McBride
• Charlie Tear

Looking Ahead: Scotland's World Cup Ambitions

Scotland's late entry to the tournament brings both challenges and opportunities. While the compressed preparation time creates logistical hurdles, the team carries momentum from their 2024 campaign where they came close to Super 8s qualification.

With experienced campaigners like Richie Berrington leading the side, the addition of Tom Bruce's international pedigree, and exciting young talent in Zainullah Ihsan, Scotland possess a balanced squad capable of causing upsets.

The coming days will be crucial as visa applications are processed and the squad finalizes travel arrangements. For Safyaan Sharif and Cricket Scotland, the focus remains on ensuring the entire contingent arrives in India ready to represent their nation on cricket's biggest stage.