Scotland’s surprise entry into the T20 World Cup 2026 has brought excitement—and urgency—as the team races to secure visas for its players ahead of the tournament in India and Sri Lanka. The situation has drawn particular attention due to visa sensitivities involving players of Pakistani heritage, including fast bowler Safyaan Sharif.
Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the upcoming global event, earning a late but historic place in the marquee tournament. However, the short turnaround has left officials focused on logistical hurdles rather than on-field preparations.
Sharif, one of Scotland’s key pace bowlers, was born in Huddersfield, England, to a Pakistani father and a British-Pakistani mother. He moved to Scotland at the age of seven and has since become a mainstay of the national side. His background has placed him at the center of visa-related concerns as the squad prepares to travel to India.
Speaking on Monday, Trudy Lindblade, Chief Executive of Cricket Scotland, said the board is working closely with tournament authorities to resolve the matter.
“We are all committed to working with the ICC to make that happen,” Lindblade said. “The visa piece is always slightly unknown, and it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got three days or whether you’ve got 45 days.”
She added that securing travel clearance for players has been the organization’s top priority since Scotland’s qualification was confirmed.
“Certainly that’s been our focus in the last 48 hours—just getting those visas done so our players are all ready to go,” Lindblade said. “They’re in the middle of submitting their visas, and we’ll be on the ground in India as quickly as we can.”
According to Lindblade, International Cricket Council has provided assurances on matters within its control and is coordinating with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and local authorities to support all participating teams.
“There’s a team working very hard not just to help us, but to help 19 other teams going to a World Cup,” she said. “Right now, though, we are their intense focus.”
The issue follows recent comments from Ali Khan, who said several USA players of Pakistani origin were initially denied visas for travel to India. Tournament officials later clarified that the issue was due to procedural delays rather than outright rejection.
With the clock ticking, Scotland remains hopeful that all squad members will receive clearance in time, allowing the team to focus fully on its first appearance at a T20 World Cup hosted across India and Sri Lanka.
