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

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin launched a strong political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, firmly rejecting the claim that Tamil Nadu is unsafe for women and questioning the Centre’s handling of law and order issues across the country.

Addressing a massive DMK women’s conference in Thanjavur district, Stalin said the Prime Minister’s remarks on women’s safety in Tamil Nadu were misleading and politically motivated. Asserting that the state remains one of the safest places for women, he highlighted the high participation of women in education, employment and public life.

“Mr Prime Minister, I say this with my head held high — Tamil Nadu is the safest place for women,” Stalin said, accusing the Prime Minister of spreading false narratives.

Manipur violence and Centre under fire

Turning his focus to the prolonged violence in Manipur, Stalin questioned the BJP-led government’s failure to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. Referring to official figures, he said hundreds had lost their lives, thousands were injured and more than a lakh people had been displaced.

He asked why the so-called “double-engine government” had been unable to control the situation despite being in power both at the Centre and in the state.

Drug abuse claims rejected

Responding to allegations of rising drug abuse in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said narcotics were entering India through BJP-ruled states, blaming the Centre for weak border security and enforcement failures.

Attack on AIADMK-BJP alliance

Stalin also criticised the renewed alliance between the AIADMK and BJP, describing it as a “repackaged failed alliance.” He pointed out that the partnership had been defeated in previous elections and claimed that even when the two parties contested separately, voters rejected them.

Alleging misuse of central agencies, Stalin said NDA allies in Tamil Nadu were functioning under pressure, with investigative agencies being used as tools of intimidation.

Dravidian model and women-centric schemes

Highlighting the achievements of his government, Stalin said the Dravidian model of governance places women’s empowerment and social justice at its core. He recalled initiatives introduced during the tenure of former chief minister M Karunanidhi, including women’s entry into the police force and the expansion of self-help groups.

Stalin said his first decision as Chief Minister was to introduce free bus travel for women, a scheme that has since become widely popular. He also cited women-led self-help groups providing doorstep healthcare services, the breakfast scheme for schoolchildren and the 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.

Calling women the “powerhouse” of society, Stalin urged them to actively campaign for the DMK, counter misinformation and mobilise voters. He announced that the party would organise five mega conferences across Tamil Nadu in February as part of its election outreach.

Kanimozhi targets PM Modi

Earlier at the event, DMK MP Kanimozhi launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister, accusing him of visiting Tamil Nadu only during election periods. She questioned the Centre over pending funds for schoolchildren, the Hosur airport project, flood relief assistance, delimitation concerns and insufficient funding for Tamil language initiatives.

BJP response

The BJP dismissed the DMK’s criticism, arguing that while the BJP and AIADMK had lost elections when contesting separately, their combined vote share indicated that the NDA could still remain a strong contender in Tamil Nadu.

Veterans from cinema, sports, public service and arts feature in the Padma Awards announced on the eve of Republic Day

Bollywood actor Dharmendra, former Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and late advertising professional Piyush Pandey are among the prominent personalities named in this year’s Padma Awards, announced on the eve of Republic Day.

The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri — for distinguished service across various fields.

Padma Vibhushan awardees

Five individuals have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour. These include Dharmendra and former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan, both honoured posthumously.

The other recipients of the Padma Vibhushan are KT Thomas for public affairs, classical violinist N Rajam for art, and P Narayanan for contributions to literature and education.

Padma Bhushan recipients

The Padma Bhushan awardees include former Uttarakhand chief minister and former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, US-based Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, businessman Uday Kotak, veteran BJP leader and former MP VK Malhotra, actor Mammootty, singer Alka Yagnik, and Kerala community leader and SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.

Late advertising stalwart Piyush Pandey has also been honoured with the Padma Bhushan posthumously.

Padma Shri awardees from sports and arts

Among the Padma Shri recipients are India women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar and former Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma. Women’s hockey player Savita Punia has also been named in the list.

The Padma Shri honours further include former UGC chairman and JNU vice chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, veteran actor Satish Shah (posthumous), and actor Prosenjit Chatterjee.

Key highlights of this year’s list

As many as 19 women feature among the Padma awardees this year. The list also includes six foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs or OCIs. A total of 16 awards have been announced posthumously.

The honours are given for contributions across disciplines such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil services.

President to confer awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan

The Padma Awards will be presented by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the awardees, stating that their dedication and service across diverse fields continue to inspire the nation.