T20 World Cup: No sponsor, kit on call and visa wait – but Scotland accepts late invite

A fourth-place finish in last summer’s European qualifiers appears to have cost Scotland a place in the 2026 T20 World Cup with the Netherlands and Italy taking the two places on offer for the region from the event.

Lindblade has already spoken to her Cricket Jersey counterpart Sarah Gomersall, given that the Channel residents may have felt somewhat aggrieved after they finished third above Scotland in the European qualifiers.

Its diplomacy extended to expressing sympathy for the Bangladeshi players who will miss the tournament.

Cricket Scotland waited for the call to come from the ICC out of respect for their counterparts at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

“We sympathize with the Bangladesh players and their fans because you know that as cricketers they just want to play the game,” Lindblad said.

“But these are circumstances beyond our control. They are things that the ICC and the Brazilian Central Bank have to work through. But when it comes down to it, we are definitely human, so compassion comes in here.”

“I would like to think that the sport will not become more divided, and if it is, we can see that and we can work together to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

As an associate member, Scotland receives approximately £2.7 million ($3.8 million) from the ICC revenue distribution model.

It’s a pittance compared to full members, with England receiving nearly £33m on top of lucrative broadcasting deals.

Participation in the World Cup will provide Scotland with a valuable cash injection – it has a £203,000 ($250,000) T20 World Cup in 2024 – but the late nature of the inclusion means a bigger outlay as well.

Scotland will receive two traveling reserves, something they would not normally do for financial reasons, given the risk of injury to players, and they hope the ICC will cover the cost.

“I think there will be talks if there is anything we have to do that is unreasonable,” Lindblad said.

“Like any team that qualifies for the World Cup, there are financial benefits to that. So we need to make sure we make the most of that.”

Listen to the full interview with Scottish Cricket’s Trudy Lindblade on Faltering Podcast Which will be released on Thursday afternoon.