‘For as long as my body works, I want to play for Scotland’: Afghan refugee Zainullah Ihsan
When Scotland received an 11th hour invitation to replace Bangladesh at the T20 World Cup in India earlier this year, many of the issues they faced were perfectly relatable. Club cricket captains the world over know all too well the challenges of having to pick a team at late notice. But this was a little more testing than putting a message in the WhatsApp group to see who was available, and…
Zainullah Ihsan, an Afghan refugee who now plays for Scotland, expressed his dream of representing his adopted country in the T20 World Cup. Upon hearing Scotland's late invitation to replace Bangladesh, he was astounded at the speed at which the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other authorities managed to process his squad, which included players of Pakistani origin and himself, who holds a Refugee Travel Document.
Zainullah, who settled in Glasgow as a refugee in 2022 after a perilous journey from Afghanistan, found that his tape-ball cricket skills were well-suited to the sport he now plays professionally. Within just 14 days of arriving in Scotland, he was already playing for his new club and eventually made it to the first team. The young fast bowler, now 20, has been rapidly progressing through various teams, including Scotland Under-19 and the Western Warriors, and is now a regular member of the full Scotland side.
Despite his impressive cricket career, Zainullah emphasizes the importance of balancing his studies with his sport, with his brother ensuring he stays on track. He has made significant strides in learning English, although he admits there is still room for improvement. Zainullah remains hopeful for a long international cricket career, and his family in Afghanistan, though initially skeptical of his abilities, are now proud of his achievements.
He recently got his first international wicket while playing against Namibia, marking another milestone in his remarkable journey.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
