Cricket Scotland chief executive Trudy Lindblade expressed confidence that members of the national side, including Pakistan-origin pacer Safyaan Sharif, will secure visas in time to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Scotland were drafted into the tournament after Bangladesh withdrew, citing security concerns, despite the ICC maintaining that its assessments indicated no threat. The Scottish side will begin their campaign against West Indies in Kolkata on February 7.
Visa applications from individuals of Pakistan origin typically face additional scrutiny and longer processing timelines. Addressing the situation, Lindblade underscored Cricket Scotland’s ongoing engagement with the sport’s governing bodies.
"We are all committed (to) working with the ICC to make that happen," Lindblade was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"The visa piece is always slightly an unknown, and it doesn't matter whether you've got three days or whether you've got 45 days.
"Certainly that's been our focus in the last 48 hours: just getting those visas done so our players are all ready to go. They're all in the middle of submitting their visas and we will be there on the ground in India as quickly as we can, so it's just a matter of time now."
Sharif, born in Huddersfield to a Pakistani father and a British-Pakistani mother, moved to Scotland at the age of seven. Lindblade said the ICC has offered assurances on all matters within its remit.
"(The ICC) can only give us the assurances of the bits that they can control and, absolutely, of the bits that they control, we are working with them and obviously they're working with the BCCI and local people on the ground there to make sure that we are getting all of that support that we need," Lindblade said.
"So, absolutely, (they have given) the assurance that they can provide of things that were in their control. There is a team working very, very hard to not just help us, but to help 19 other teams as well that are also going to a World Cup. But we are their intense focus right now."
As a precaution, Scotland will also submit visa applications for two travelling reserves and three non-travelling reserves to ensure the squad can be fielded in case of any delays.
"We [also] anticipate some support whenever we can [get it] from the BCCI," Scotland head of performance Steve Snell said.
"I don't think we need to escalate that any further to get into the country, because you'd suggest that Scotland being invited to attend the World Cup and then not being able to get there wouldn't be a great look for anybody."
Scotland are scheduled to play warm-up matches against Afghanistan and Namibia in Bengaluru on February 2 and 4 before facing West Indies in their tournament opener in Kolkata. Their remaining first-round fixtures are against Italy, England and Nepal, with the top two teams in Group B advancing to the Super 8s.
Lindblade also said Scotland sympathised with Bangladesh and acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding their inclusion in the tournament.
"We certainly have for the Bangladesh team," Lindblade said when asked if she had sympathy for the side they had replaced.
"Obviously, this is not how we wanted to go to a World Cup. There is a qualification process and nobody wants to qualify or attend or be invited to a World Cup in the way that we have done. We acknowledge it is certainly unique circumstances by our participation, and we do feel for the Bangladesh players."
Scotland had narrowly missed qualification after defeats to Italy and Jersey at the Europe Regional Final last July. Lindblade, however, stressed the team’s overall standing and consistency.
"We are a team that is ranked 14th in the world. We are also a strong team that plays consistently throughout the year.
"That World Cup [qualifier] for us was not how we normally play, and therefore we are just pleased to be at this World Cup… We are happy to step in, although it is unique and challenging circumstances and we absolutely recognise that."