Scotland Name World Cup Squad, Await Indian Visa for Pakistan-Born Pacer Sharif
Scotland faces a tight race against time for Indian visas, especially for Pakistan-born pacer Safyaan Sharif, ahead of their abrupt T20 World Cup entry.
As Scotland prepares for a whirlwind entry into the T20 World Cup, replacing Bangladesh, all eyes are on the visa processing for their squad—particularly for Pakistan-born pacer Safyaan Sharif. With the tournament kicking off on February 7, Cricket Scotland is leaning heavily on assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the Indian visas will be secured in time.
The abrupt inclusion of Scotland, due to Bangladesh's withdrawal over security concerns, has left a tight window for logistics. The team is scheduled to depart for India later this week. However, the diplomatic tension between India and Pakistan has historically caused delays for Pakistani nationals and those of Pakistani heritage.
Sharif, born in Huddersfield to a Pakistani father and British-Pakistani mother, falls into this sensitive category.
Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade expressed optimism on Monday, stating that the ICC is working "very, very hard" with local authorities and the BCCI to expedite the process. "There is always a level of uncertainty with visas... but the ICC can only assure us of what is within their control," Lindblade said.
To mitigate risks, Scotland has named a 15-man squad along with two traveling and three non-traveling reserves, applying for visas for all to ensure a full-strength team can take the field against the West Indies in Kolkata.
The squad features three changes from the 2024 edition, including 19-year-old Afghanistan-born pacer Zainullah Ehsan and former New Zealand international Tom Bruce.