Scotland cricket legend, Paul Hoffmann, has called for radical new measures to help Kyle Coetzer’s team gain more fixtures.
The Scots have been left without any high-profile home matches in 2020, following the cancellation of games with New Zealand and Australia, due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
And it’s expected that the World T20 event, scheduled for October in Australia and for which Kyle Coetzer’s team have qualified, will be postponed to 2021.
Hoffmann, a former World Cup star, who was involved in Scotland’s victory in the ICC Trophy in Dublin in 2005, thinks it is overdue for England to offer more opportunities.
He told the Press & Journal: “I woud love to see Scotland play in the English domestic T20 competition or even the new Hundred tournament when it is launched.
“The current squad of batsmen are up there with the best we have seen in a Scotland top, including the likes of George Munsey, Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington and Matthew Cross and that is just to name a few.
“Their talents are being left dormant for too long. There is simply not enough top-class cricket for them. Scotland fans deserve to see these guys in action more often.
“I know Covid-19 has wrecked this summer, but only a handful of international games were planned, and even I wouldn’t have been able to attend due to work commitments.
“The ICC have to give these guys more fixtures. There is too much training and not enough game time, which must be incredibly frustrating for the players.
“If the ICC can’t give them more fixtures, then we should do everything we can to be a part of the T20 or The Hundred.
“Imagine the crowds and buzz these games could generate on an evening at the Grange. I loved playing regular games against the counties.
“It was top quality cricket that tested us and ultimately improved us as a team – and that definitely was a reason why we brushed off all the opposing teams in 2005.
The Scots convincingly defeated Ireland, who included Test stars Ed Joyce and a teenage Eoin Morgan, in the final at Clontarf 15 years ago.