Scotland are “absolutely ready to go” on the T20 World Cup after their last-minute invite – supplied there are not any hiccups with flights and visas forward of their deliberate journey to India.
The facet will take Bangladesh’s spot on the 20-team match from February 7 after the Asian nation refused to play video games in India attributable to political tensions.
Scotland will be a part of Group C, alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and match debutants Italy, because the next-highest nation within the ICC’s T20I rankings to not have already certified.
The group face a race in opposition to time forward of their World Cup opener in opposition to West Indies in Kolkata on the primary day, though Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade advised Sky Sports activities Information that every one gamers can be found and a package is now sorted.
Scotland have taken Bangladesh’s spot on the T20 World Cup
Lindblade, whose facet will play England on Valentine’s Day, with that sport beginning at 9.30am UK, stated: “There may be terrific pleasure but in addition so much to get executed in a really brief time frame.
“The group is completely prepared. We now have been doing winter coaching however definitely have to get on grass and acclimatise to situations in India, that are very totally different to right here in Edinburgh in the mean time.
“Cricket is a 365-day-a-year sport. We have had players around the world playing franchise cricket so we are ready to do Scotland proud.”
‘Contact and go’ however Scotland ‘assured’ they’ll make it
“We know all the players can be available. The opportunity to be at a World Cup in India, cricket’s heartland, was a fairly easy decision for the players, although maybe slightly longer conversations with the families before they leave. Everybody is ready to play.
Scotland got here near reaching the second spherical of the earlier T20 World Cup in 2024, solely to be knocked out on web run-rate
“Trying to get a team out of Scotland and to India in less than seven days does come with challenges – flights and visas are the biggest things for us. If we get those, we will have a team out by the weekend.
“There are occasions it will likely be contact and go however I’m assured. We’re counting on the ICC to work actually arduous with us. We now have a WhatsApp group that goes for 21 hours a day. I’ve a small group however that is when nice groups shine.”
Scotland finished fourth in the European Qualifier as Netherlands and Italy took the two spots available for that region in the T20 World Cup, ahead of third-placed Jersey.
However, Scotland impressed in the previous T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA in 2024 and may well have beaten England in the group stage had rain not intervened, after reaching 90-0 from the 10 overs possible in Barbados.
Rain washed out Scotland’s sport with England on the 2024 T20 World Cup with the affiliate nation in a good place
Additionally they challenged Australia earlier than defeat to Mitch Marsh’s facet noticed them eradicated within the group stage on web run-rate with England advancing forward of them.
Lindblade added of this 12 months’s match: “It is an opportunity for us to play against the best teams in the world. Hopefully some upsets will happen along the way as that’s what creates drama and memories. We are going to give it our best shot.
“We’re there to play our greatest and transfer via the levels. Not having the identical preparation as different groups does take a bit little bit of the strain off however equally we all know we’ll put strain on ourselves to get the perfect end result for Scotland.”
Scotland’s T20 World Cup fixtures
All instances UK and Eire, all dwell on Sky Sports activities
- Saturday February 7: vs West Indies in Kolkata (9.30am)
- Monday February 9: vs Italy in Kolkata (5.30am)
- Saturday February 14: vs England in Kolkata (9.30am)
- Tuesday February 17: vs Nepal in Mumbai (1.30pm)
