Scotland on Monday announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 and jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The European side was added to the tournament after the International Cricket Council replaced Bangladesh, following the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s decision not to send its team to India due to security concerns. Scotland will be led by Richie Berrington, who has previously captained the side in major international tournaments.

Scotland have featured in six of the nine editions of the T20 World Cup so far, having participated in the 2007, 2009, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024 editions.

Squad balance and new faces

Along with the main squad, Scotland also named two travelling reserves and three non-travelling reserves for the marquee event.

Cricket Scotland’s head of performance Steve Snell expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and preparation for sub-continent conditions. He said the selected group offers flexibility for different match situations and challenges expected in India.

Snell also highlighted opportunities for younger players, particularly pacer Zainullah Ihsan, who has impressed at youth and ‘A’ team levels with his pace and skill set. He added that Oliver Davidson earned his place through consistent effort and improvement over recent months.

According to Snell, the players are motivated to compete against the world’s best and are eager to make an impact on the global stage.

Group C fixtures and opening match

Scotland have been placed in Group C, alongside England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies. Their campaign will begin on February 7 with an opening fixture against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

Scotland squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Squad:
Richie Berrington (captain), 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, Charlie Tear

The International Cricket Council has removed Bangladesh from the upcoming T20 World Cup after the team declined to travel to India for the tournament, sources told media on Saturday.

Scotland have been named as Bangladesh’s replacement for the event, which is scheduled to begin on February 7. The decision was taken after Bangladesh failed to formally confirm their participation within the deadline set by the global cricket body.

Earlier in the week, Bangladesh had requested that their matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-hosts under the hybrid model. The request was rejected, following which the ICC gave Bangladesh 24 hours to either confirm travel plans or face replacement.

ICC decision conveyed after deadline lapse

According to sources, senior ICC officials were present in Dubai on Friday when the decision was finalised. An email was later sent to Bangladesh Cricket Board chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul, informing him that the board had been replaced after failing to respond officially within the stipulated time.

An ICC source said the Bangladesh board did not communicate its decision directly to the governing body before addressing the media in Dhaka, which was cited as a breach of protocol.

Bangladesh’s Sports Ministry advisor Asif Nazrul had earlier advised the team against travelling to India, raising security concerns despite assurances from the ICC.

Scotland await formal confirmation

While Cricket Scotland has said it has not yet received official communication, sources indicate that Scotland will participate in the tournament in Bangladesh’s place.

Scotland are scheduled to play their group-stage matches against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 in Kolkata, followed by a fixture against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.

India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan delivered a timely reminder of his explosive ability, producing a match-winning 76 off just 32 balls against New Zealand in the second T20I on Friday. The knock marked a strong response after a modest outing in the series opener and came at a crucial time as India fine-tune combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Backed by the selectors for a top-order role ahead of Shubman Gill, Kishan admitted that doubts crossed his mind when he walked in to bat during the Raipur encounter. However, the left-hander said he was clear about one thing — trusting himself and playing his natural game.

“I asked myself one question, can I do it again or not? And I had a very clear answer. I felt I could bat through the innings and play good shots. I just needed to get runs somewhere to answer my questions,” Kishan said after the match.

He added that the focus was not on the outcome but on playing positive cricket. “Even if I got out, I just wanted to play good cricket. That was it,” he said.

Kishan also benefited from batting alongside India captain Suryakumar Yadav, with whom he shares a long association from their time together in the Indian Premier League. The partnership helped India maintain momentum as Kishan attacked the New Zealand bowling from the outset.

Reflecting on his return to the national side, Kishan credited his domestic performances for restoring confidence. He said scoring consistently at that level played a key role in helping him carry form into international cricket.

“Sometimes it’s important to do it for yourself — to answer your own questions about how you’re batting and whether you’re capable of playing for India. That’s why domestic cricket was important for me,” he said.

With three matches still remaining in the T20I series against New Zealand, Kishan stressed that the job is far from finished, both for him and the team, as India look to build rhythm and consistency going forward.