Zainullah Ihsan may have just missed the age cutoff for the Under-19 World Cup, but the stars are now aligning for the young Afghan fast bowler. “I felt a bit down then, but now I’m thrilled to be part of the T20 World Cup!” exclaimed Ihsan, who relocated to Scotland four years ago.
Scotland, initially out of the T20 World Cup, seized their chance after Bangladesh opted out of competing in India. In the rush to assemble a team on short notice, Ihsan earned his spot. “I was part hopeful and part expecting, but when the coach delivered the call-up news, I was genuinely shocked.”
Despite limited preparation time, the Scottish team has arrived with buoyant confidence. “We’ve managed to beat them twice recently [once in the 2022 T20 World Cup and again in an ODI in 2023], so I don’t see why we can’t do it again,” said left-arm spinner Mark Watt ahead of their opener against West Indies at Eden Gardens. West Indies head coach Darren Sammy, who captained the team during their last T20 World Cup victory in 2016, acknowledged the challenge, describing Scotland as “dicey opponents.”
Watt emphasized their respect for the Bangladeshi players but firmly believes they deserve their place in this tournament. “We know we can take on teams ranked above us and come out on top.”