ICC urged to review ‘strange’ 12th man rules

The International Cricket Council has been urged to review the rules concerning 12th man duties which denied Scott Currie the chance to play for Scotland at the men’s T20 World Cup.

Poole-born Currie, 24, has played three one-day internationals for Scotland having qualified for the Saltires through his Scottish father.

Potentially he could have been lining up to play for Scotland against England in Kolkata on Saturday, alongside brother Brad, only to be deemed ineligible for the tournament because of ICC red tape.

The Hampshire all-rounder was called up by England for a three-match T20 international series against Ireland last September as a replacement for the injured Saqib Mahmood.

Currie was not picked in England’s playing XI for any of the matches which took place in Malahide, but because he undertook 12th man duties he is now ineligible for Scotland for three years.

Section 2.2 of the ICC’s player eligibility regulations state that he “participated” as a “non-playing official substitute” even though he has not made an appearance for England.

Cricket Scotland chief executive Trudy Lindblade said the ICC ruling seems “quite strange” compared to other sports.

Under the rules governing football and rugby union, Currie would have been eligible to play for Scotland having not won an official cap.

“I don’t know when that rule was last looked at, so maybe it is time to have a re-look at that and confirm that what is in place is correct or whether alterations are needed,” Lindblade told BBC Sport.

“Is that rule still relevant today in that evolution of our sport where players do move around a lot more from that perspective?”

Under ICC regulations players can switch allegiances from associate countries like Scotland to full members like England provided they meet all the other qualification requirements.

Currie declined to comment but has previously spoken of his “immense pride” at playing international cricket for Scotland.

“Taking the field with my brother [Brad], knowing what is means to my old man and his side of the family, is something that always puts a smile on face,” he said last year.