West Indies vs Scotland Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026: Scotland will be keen to prove that their late inclusion in the T20 World Cup was no accident when they begin their campaign against two-time champions West Indies here on Saturday, aiming to turn an unexpected opening into an opportunity to unsettle more established opponents.

After nearly a month of discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the ICC were ultimately compelled to replace Bangladesh with Scotland, resulting in a dramatic entry for the Europeans just two weeks before the tournament got underway.

Bangladesh were scheduled to play four group matches in India, three of them in Kolkata, but the BCB stayed firm on its decision not to travel, citing “security concerns”.

The chain of events was triggered on January 3, when the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad amid worsening ties between India and Bangladesh.

Matters escalated the following day when the BCB informed the ICC that the Bangladesh team would not travel to India for its matches and held its ground, clearing the path for Scotland’s inclusion based on rankings.

However, Scotland, who finished fourth in the European Qualifier behind the Netherlands, Italy and Jersey, have insisted they are far more than last-minute replacements.

“We’re very sympathetic towards Bangladesh players. But we still massively believe that we should be here,” left-arm spinner Mark Watt, one of Scotland’s most experienced campaigners with 77 T20Is and 82 ODIs, said on the eve of the opener.

“We had a blip in the summer and we believe that we should be here and we believe that we can be beating teams higher ranked than us. So there’s no second guessing our invite into this tournament. We’re all ready to go,” he added.

That confidence is rooted in past performances. Scotland stunned West Indies by 42 runs at the 2022–23 T20 World Cup in Australia, with Watt taking 3/12, and have beaten them twice across formats, including a seven-wicket ODI win at the 2023 World Cup Qualifier.

“I don’t think teams will take us lightly. We’ve caused a few upsets in the past. We had a really good start against England in the last World Cup game that was sadly rained off. I don’t think teams will be taking us lightly at all.”

Despite limited preparation time, belief runs high within the squad, especially among younger players suddenly thrust onto the global stage.

“We got a lot of youngsters in the team at the moment and how more excited can they be. Ten days ago they were sitting and doing nothing, now they’re here in India playing in a World Cup, it’s absolutely amazing for them, we’re all so excited to be here and ready to go.”

With England also in their group, Watt said the broader aim is to challenge Test-playing nations.

“Scotland playing at the World Cup, that’s going to inspire the younger generation, that’s what our job is to do — go out there and beat Test-playing nations and inspire young kids to grow up and look at us on the TV and say I want to be able to do that.”

To prepare for Kolkata’s conditions, Watt even picked the brains of Afghanistan’s spin stars Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi during a warm-up match in Bengaluru.

“I spoke to a few of the Afghani players, like Nabi and Rashid about what’s the best way to bowl in Kolkata,” he said.

Scotland’s squad combines experience with youthful energy. Former New Zealand batter Tom Bruce strengthens the middle order, Afghanistan-born 19-year-old seamer Zainullah Ihsan brings raw pace, while Watt’s variations and Brandon McMullen’s explosive hitting — including a 95 off 39 in a warm-up — highlight their potential to spring surprises.

West Indies, two-time champions who last lifted the trophy at this very venue in 2016, will nonetheless pose a serious threat despite mixed recent form. Sherfane Rutherford (334 runs) and Shai Hope (276 runs) impressed in the recently concluded SA20 for Pretoria Capitals, while Shamar Joseph and Akeal Hosein provide plenty of firepower with the ball.

Teams (from)

West Indies: Shai Hope (captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.

Scotland: Richie Berrington (captain), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal.