Scott Currie is ineligible for selection for Scotland's T20 World Cup squad on nationality grounds, despite having not made his England debut yet.
Currie played three ODIs for Scotland in 2024 in the World Cricket League Division Two, in which he took three wickets. Following Scotland's initial failure to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup, he switched his focus to playing for England, where he plays county cricket for Hampshire.
He was subsequently called up to replace Saqib Mahmood for England's T20I series in Ireland at the end of last summer. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo at the time, Currie said that he remained in contact with Scotland, and suggested he could play for them again before his England debut came: "There's plenty of experience to be had out there. I've obviously got [the possibility] that you can flip between the two, and if an England cap ever came then that would be a massive honour.
"Everyone's favorite word at the moment is the schedule, but it's tough with the way the schedule is to find those opportunities [to play international cricket]. Unfortunately, they [Scotland] didn't qualify for the T20 World Cup coming this winter. But yeah, I do remain in contact with them."
Why Currie is ineligible to play for Scotland despite having not yet won an England cap
Currie did not play a game for England in Ireland last summer, and was released after the second T20I to play in the One Day Cup final. He has not since been named in an England squad, so has yet to win an England cap. However, Currie was named as a substitute fielder for the first T20I in Malahide, which means he will now have to re-fulfill the ICC's eligibility criteria in order to play for Scotland again.
Article 2.2 of the ICC's Player Eligibility Regulations states: "Where a Player...has represented a National Cricket Federation...and subsequently seeks to play for a different National Cricket Federation, he/she will only qualify to play in an International Match or ICC Event for a National Cricket Federation if... he/she has not participated (as a member of a starting XI or as a playing or non-playing official substitute) in an International Match...for any other National Cricket Federation during the three years immediately preceding the date of the relevant International Match or ICC Event."
Cricket Scotland head of performance, Steve Snell confirmed that Currie was ineligible for selection ahead of naming Scotland's squad for the T20 World Cup. "Scott isn’t available," said Snell. "Scott unfortunately will have to serve his time. He was listed on a teamsheet for England which means he’s ineligible for Scotland, which is really disappointing."
Notably, as an England qualified player, Currie did not have to fulfil a waiting period in order to be eligible to play for England having played three ODIs for Scotland in 2024 because of England's status as an ICC Full Member and Scotland's as an Associate.
Article 2.2.1 of the ICC Player Eligibility Regulations states: "Zero stand out period shall apply in the case of a Player who has previously represented an Associate Member National Cricket Federation and who is seeking to qualify to play in an International Match or ICC Event for a Full Member National Cricket Federation."
However, the rule does not work in reverse. Once a player has represented a Full Member, they must wait three years before playing for another Full Member or an Associate.
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