Full Name
Zainullah Ihsan
Born
March 28, 2006
Place Of Birth
Afghanistan
Country
Scotland
Role
Bowler
Batting Style
Right-handed
Bowling Style
Right-arm medium-fast
Zainullah Ihsan
Zainullah Ihsan
Zainullah Ihsan
Zainullah Ihsan is a rapidly emerging Afghanistan-born Scottish cricketer who earned a maiden call-up to the Scotland senior squad for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India. A right-arm fast-medium bowler, he gained national recognition after moving to Scotland as an unaccompanied asylum seeker and rising from local Glasgow "tape-ball" cricket to international level within two years.
Table of Content
Stats
| Match | Format | Date | Over | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namibia vs Scotland · 3rd T20I | T20I | April 18, 2026 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.33 |
| Namibia vs Scotland · 1st T20I | T20I | April 15, 2026 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10.50 |
| Namibia vs Scotland · Match 7 | T20 | February 4, 2026 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12.25 |
| Series | Format | Date | Runs | BF | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC Men's T20 World Cup Warm up Matches 2026 | T20 | Feb 2, 2026 - Feb 6, 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Series | Format | Date | Over | M | R | W | BBi | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC Men's T20 World Cup Warm up Matches 2026 | T20 | Feb 2, 2026 - Feb 6, 2026 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 1/49 | 12.25 |
Summary Of Career Journey
Zainullah Ihsan's journey is unique, transitioning from playing tape-ball cricket in Afghanistan to becoming a rising fast-bowling talent in Scotland within three years. After being granted refuge in Scotland in 2022, he began playing for GHK Cricket Club in Glasgow. His impressive pace in local league cricket led to his selection for the Scotland U19s in 2024, followed by a call-up to the Scotland "A" team, and ultimately, a surprise inclusion in the 2026 T20 World Cup squad.
Major Teams Represented
- Current: Scotland (Senior Team), Scotland A
- Past/Youth: Scotland Under-19, GHK Cricket Club (Glasgow), Scotland Under-17
International Debuts
- Zainullah Ihsan made his unofficial/warm-up debut for Scotland in early February 2026, notably playing against Namibia on February 3, 2026 (taking 1-49).
Statistics (as Of Feb 2026)
- Scottish League Cricket: Recorded 27 wickets in 2025/26 (highest in his league).
- Representative Cricket: 13 wickets at a bowling average of 19.92.
- Best Bowling: 4/18.
- T20 World Cup: Included in the Scotland 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.
Awards & Notable Achievements
- Inclusion in T20 World Cup Squad (2026): Significant milestone after only a few years in Scotland.
- Leading Wicket-Taker: Reported leading wicket-taker for Scotland in a U19 World Cup qualifier.
- Impact: Recognized for his pace and rapid development in Scotland's "A" team series against Nepal.
