Scotland teenager Zainullah Ihsan has been selected for the T20 World Cup, a tournament he never thought he'd be playing in. The 19-year-old was born in Afghanistan but claims Scotland as his country after fleeing with his family at the age of 13.
Ihsan's rise to international cricket has been swift, and although it wasn't without its challenges. The teenager had only played tapeball cricket before joining GHK Cricket Club, where he caught the attention of coaches and eventually made his debut for Scotland A.
Ihsan's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad was a surprise, but he took it as an opportunity to learn from experienced players like Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan. He spoke about the significance of his selection and how it has given him respect and believed in him.
Despite facing setbacks, including missing out on playing in Scotland's warm-up match against Afghanistan due to visa issues, Ihsan remains grounded and determined to do his best. His family was also unaware of his cricketing achievements until he told them about his performances for Scotland A.
Ihsan believes that his determination and willingness to learn will help him grow as a player. With the support of Scotland's coaching staff and his own hard work, Ihsan is set to make a name for himself in international cricket.
Ihsan's rise to international cricket has been swift, and although it wasn't without its challenges. The teenager had only played tapeball cricket before joining GHK Cricket Club, where he caught the attention of coaches and eventually made his debut for Scotland A.
Ihsan's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad was a surprise, but he took it as an opportunity to learn from experienced players like Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan. He spoke about the significance of his selection and how it has given him respect and believed in him.
Despite facing setbacks, including missing out on playing in Scotland's warm-up match against Afghanistan due to visa issues, Ihsan remains grounded and determined to do his best. His family was also unaware of his cricketing achievements until he told them about his performances for Scotland A.
Ihsan believes that his determination and willingness to learn will help him grow as a player. With the support of Scotland's coaching staff and his own hard work, Ihsan is set to make a name for himself in international cricket.
I'm literally so proud of this young bloke!!! He's come so far from nothing to being part of the T20 World Cup squad... 13 years old and he was already fleeing war-torn Afghanistan, can you even imagine what that must've been like for him & his family? 
And now he's living his dream playing cricket for Scotland, it's just incredible 
. This kid is just a shining example of what can happen when you work hard & believe in yourself... he's got this! 
He's got some serious skills too, playing tapeball cricket before moving to GHK Cricket Club and now making a name for himself on the international stage. 
The fact that he took it all in stride despite facing setbacks is super inspiring. I've gotta respect how humble he remains despite his recent selection, it's awesome to see him stay grounded & focused on his goals 
, Zainullah Ihsan's story is literally INSPIRING!!! 
He went from tapeball cricket to the T20 World Cup squad? Mind blown! 
And can you believe he was born in Afghanistan but now reps Scotland? 
That's what I call adaptability and determination! 
In 2023, there were over 15 million cricket enthusiasts in the UK, with the majority being from South Asian backgrounds (including Afghans). And, btw, Scotland's national team has been growing rapidly since 2019, with a 30% increase in viewership! 
Did u know the tournament has an average of 8 million viewers per match? 
And the prize money is $1.4M? 
Talk about a sweet gig!
he's got heart & it's awesome that scotland took him under their wing despite him not being born there 
visa issues can be a real bummer but his family didn't even know about his cricketing achievements till now lol, guess you could say they're in for a surprise 
anyway, good luck to zainullah ihsan, he's gonna crush it out there 
It just goes to show that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. 
The fact that he was unaware of his own cricketing success until now is wild, but it just shows how humble he is about his abilities. 
. I think it's also admirable that he's using this platform to prove himself, while also staying humble and grounded 
. Scotland's coaching staff must be doing something right if they're able to tap into his potential and help him develop into a world-class player 
also sad that he missed the warm-up match against Afghanistan due to visa issues 
I'm not convinced this kid was born in Afghanistan... 13 years old moving to Scotland? That's like saying "oh wait, I'm American" because you moved here as a kid? Don't get me wrong, the kid's got skills and all, but let's verify his background before giving him a T20 World Cup spot. 
Where's his birth certificate or proof of residency? I need more info on this story before I start cheering for Scotland's cricket team. 
. I mean, it's not like he was born in Scotland or anything, but hey, who am I right? He's still just a teenager and has been playing tapeball cricket before 
. I guess it's nice that he got picked to learn from some pros, but what if he gets exposed on the big stage? His family didn't even know about his cricketing skills until now... like, what's next, his parents never knew they had a son who was basically a pro athlete 
.
