Scotland hopeful visas clear for T20 World Cup in India ahead of Kolkata opener

Cricket Scotland’s top executive says she is confident the visa process will clear in time for the T20 World Cup in India, even as delays loom for key players. The late inclusion of Scotland, after Bangladesh withdrew from the event, has tightened timelines and makes visa processing the immediate logistical hurdle ahead of their opening game against the West Indies in Kolkata on February 7. The focus for the next 48 hours has been on submitting and finalizing paperwork so the squad can land and be ready for the tournament. They’re working with the ICC to ensure everyone gets to India on schedule.

Among those facing tougher scrutiny is Safyaan Sharif, a Pakistan-origin pace bowler. Sharif was born in Huddersfield to a Pakistani father and a British-Pakistani mother before moving to Scotland at an early age, a background that often brings longer processing times for Pakistan-origin applicants. Still, Cricket Scotland stresses that the ICC is actively working to expedite entries for all 20 teams, and they remain hopeful the visas will be resolved soon.

Cricket Scotland’s leadership emphasised that the immediate task is paperwork and submissions, and they expect to be on the ground in India as quickly as possible. The tournament’s compressed schedule, plus the need to accommodate teams that arrived after Bangladesh’s withdrawal, has placed a premium on efficient visa processing as teams prepare for the high-stakes start in Kolkata.

The broader backdrop is a T20 World Cup that will feature 20 teams, with officials saying every effort is being made to ensure participation remains uninterrupted despite the late changes and the security concerns that precipitated Bangladesh’s withdrawal.

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