The Scotland Men's squad for the forthcoming tour of the UAE in February and March has been confirmed.
The tour will include four ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 matches against Canada and the UAE. This will be followed by three T20 internationals against the UAE. Two squads have been named. Both will play in multiple formats.
Three players are making their debut in the Men's senior squad. Scott Currie, the 22-year-old brother of Brad Currie who made his Scotland debut last year, has been selected. Additionally, 19-year-old wicket-keeper batsman Charlie Tear, who is contracted to Sussex, has been picked for his first senior international squad. Heriots’ all-rounder James Dickinson has also received his first call-up.
Batsman Andrew Umeed, 27, has returned to the squad after a successful 2023 season with Somerset. The ex-U19 international debuted for Scotland against Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup in 2015. Brad Wheal, who last played at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2022, is also returning.
Richie Berrington will captain both squads, and the coaching team will include Stevie Gilmour, Moneeb Iqbal, and Andy McKay. All supported Doug Watson during last year's successful ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. The recruitment process for a new Men’s Head Coach is currently ongoing.
According to Head of Performance Steve Snell, this tour provides a great opportunity for the players to compete in various formats. The selection process aimed to strike a balance between producing the strongest possible performances in the first round of CWCL2 matches and having an eye on future demands.
The Men's squad has not played any matches for nearly six months. Therefore, it is crucial to provide as many players as possible with the opportunity to play cricket while maintaining competitiveness on the field. These squads allow several players to showcase their skills as we prepare for the T20 World Cup in the summer.
Andy Umeed has a strong connection with the national setup, despite not playing for Scotland for some time. He is a player with an impressive background, and his performances in white ball cricket for Somerset last season were outstanding. He is eager to participate and excited to represent his country, making it a great opportunity for both parties.
Scott Currie is clearly following in his brother's footsteps, after Brad made such an impact for the Scotland last summer. However, Scott is a great player in his own right. He is tall, bowls at a good pace, and is an excellent fielder and competitor, just like his brother.
Scott has a strong emotional connection to Scotland, and his family has a rich history there. He and Brad playing together for Scotland would be a huge opportunity. Overall, these additions enhance the quality of the squad.
Charlie Tear played exceptionally well for the Scotland U19 squad a few years ago and deserves his chance to step up. Since the retirement of Tom Mackintosh, there is a skills gap at wicketkeeper. Charlie now has the opportunity to back up Matt Cross with the gloves. He is also a proficient batsman, so it is exciting to have him in the squad.
James Dickinson's inclusion is a good example of incentivising and providing a pathway for local players. He has performed well in club cricket for several years and has shown in training that he can give the ball a good rip as a leg-spinner in T20 cricket, which is crucial.
Steve also provided an update on the process of appointing a new permanent Men's Head Coach.
There is no specific timeframe for announcing the appointment for the position of Men's Head Coach, but there is lots of excitement about the candidates. Before concluding the process, Stevie Gilmour, Moneeb Iqbal, and Andy McKay will oversee the coaching for this tour.
ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 Squad
- Richie Berrington - Clydesdale
- Matthew Cross - Heriots
- Brad Currie - Sussex
- Scott Currie - Hampshire
- Chris Greaves - Grange
- Michael Leask - Forfarshire
- Brandon McMullen - RH Corstorphine
- George Munsey - RH Corstorphine
- Safyaan Sharif - Perth Doo’cot
- Chris Sole - Grange
- Hamza Tahir - Ayr
- Charlie Tear - Sussex
- Andrew Umeed - Somerset
- Mark Watt - Heriots
- Brad Wheal - Hampshire
T20 International Series Squad
- Richie Berrington - Clydesdale
- Matthew Cross - Heriots
- Brad Currie - Sussex
- James Dickinson - Heriots
- Chris Greaves - Grange
- Oli Hairs - Watsonians
- Jack Jarvis - Grange
- Michael Leask - Forfarshire
- Gavin Main - Heriots
- Brandon McMullen - RH Corstorphine
- George Munsey - RH Corstorphine
- Safyaan Sharif - Perth Doo’cot
- Chris Sole - Grange
- Andrew Umeed - Somerset
- Mark Watt - Heriots
Fixture Schedule
February 24 Warmup fixture UAE XI vs Scotland - Dubai
February 26 Warmup fixture UAE XI vs Scotland - Dubai
March 1 CWCL2 Canada vs Scotland - Dubai
March 3 CWCL2 UAE vs Scotland - Dubai
March 7 CWCL2 Canada vs Scotland - Dubai
March 9 CWCL2 UAE vs Scotland - Dubai
March 11 T20i UAE vs Scotland - Dubai
March 13 T20i UAE vs Scotland - Dubai
March 14 T20i UAE vs Scotland - Dubai