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.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to visit Delhi in February to register a strong protest against the Election Commission of India over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in the state, according to sources.

The proposed visit comes amid an intensifying political confrontation between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the poll body over the SIR exercise in poll-bound West Bengal.

Sources said Mamata Banerjee is deeply disturbed by allegations of deaths linked to the SIR process. Despite writing multiple letters to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, she remains dissatisfied with the responses received so far, prompting her to escalate the issue to the national level.

Party insiders indicated that the chief minister’s Delhi visit is also aimed at mobilising broader opposition support against the SIR exercise. Senior Trinamool Congress leaders said the move is intended to raise national attention on what the party describes as serious concerns surrounding the revision process.

While the exact date of the visit has not been finalised, some leaders suggested that Mamata Banerjee could travel to the national capital during the ongoing Parliament session to amplify political pressure.

The Special Intensive Revision process began in West Bengal on November 4. On the same day, Mamata Banerjee, along with Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, led a street march in Kolkata opposing the exercise.

Recently, Abhishek Banerjee had also indicated that the party chief would visit Delhi to highlight developments related to the SIR and sharpen political criticism against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.