Kolkata

His story could easily pass for a Bollywood script — shaped by chance, struggle and sudden opportunity.

Born in Afghanistan, arriving in the United Kingdom as an unaccompanied asylum seeker and granted refugee status only in 2022, 19-year-old Zainullah Ihsan now stands on the brink of making his Scotland debut on the biggest stage — the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

For the young fast bowler, the journey from uncertainty to international cricket has unfolded in a matter of months.

“Kismat tum khud banate ho. Allah kismat nahin bana deta,” Ihsan said on the eve of Scotland’s T20 World Cup opener against the West Indies at Eden Gardens here. “If you work hard, destiny comes with you.”

Cricket, for Ihsan, began with tape-ball games back home.

“First, I played tape-ball cricket in Afghanistan. After that, I moved to Scotland and went to a park with my elder brother,” he recalled. “I played tape-ball cricket with his friends and they told me, ‘Join a club, you play very well.’”

That advice led him to Glasgow’s GHK Cricket Club — where even a spot in the squad was uncertain.

“The coach told me to bat with them, so I batted. Then I bowled, and they said it was difficult to face me,” he said. “After that, they gave me club membership free of cost.”

Normally, there was no place in the first team. Ihsan, however, forced his way straight in.

“I took 16 wickets in four matches. The next year I took 27 or 28 wickets and was the top wicket-taker. This year also I was the top wicket-taker in West Scotland,” he said. “After that, I was selected directly for the national team.”

Even then, a World Cup seemed distant. He missed out on Under-19 cricket due to eligibility criteria and had only recently qualified to play for Scotland’s senior side.

“When the Under-19 selection happened, I was not eligible. I became eligible for the senior team only four months ago,” he said. “And then suddenly I was selected for the World Cup. I was surprised.”

The final twist came when Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament opened the door for Scotland — and for Ihsan, despite not having played a full international.

“I didn’t expect it. I have never played for the national team. I didn’t even play the qualifiers,” he said.

The phone call announcing his selection left him stunned.

“My coach called me and told me I was selected. I couldn’t say anything. I just said thank you,” Ihsan recalled.

The leap to a global tournament in India has been abrupt, but Scotland’s coaching staff see him as a natural fit for the T20 format.

Assistant coach Gordon Drummond said Ihsan brings “natural athleticism” and a skill set ideally suited to the shortest format.

“What we’ve seen regularly is the ability to bowl good yorkers, good bouncers and an effective slower ball, which we feel is really valuable in T20 cricket,” Drummond said.

Still studying English at college and adjusting to life in a new country, Ihsan says the dressing room has become his support system.

“Everyone here is like my family,” he said.

He is also clear about where he belongs now.

“I live in Scotland. Everything is there. That is my country now,” he said. “I was born in Afghanistan and I respect it, but Scotland is my country.”

For now, he is not looking too far ahead.

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“I’m not thinking about anything else,” Ihsan said. “My focus is only on the T20 World Cup.”