Safyaan Sharif, Scotland's seasoned seamer, believes England will be grappling with immense pressure when the two teams face off in a pivotal Group C clash at the T20 World Cup in Kolkata this Saturday. With England's shaky start—including a narrow escape against Nepal and a loss to West Indies—Sharif senses vulnerability in the tournament favorites.
Pressure Mounts on England After Rocky Start
"Definitely, they'll be feeling pressure because they know they have to win to qualify," Sharif asserts. "Obviously, that's the same for us, but I don't think we have too much to lose. They have more to lose than us. Nepal gave them a good run, and they were stressed in that game—panicking a lot, evident in how they played in the final overs. It's all about how they handle the pressure."
He notes that while England has played good cricket, recent performances show cracks. "Any team is dangerous in T20, and we're playing good cricket too. In this format, anyone can beat anyone; things can change within one over or one ball."
From Restaurant Supervisor to World Cup Call-Up
Sharif's journey to this moment is a tale of sudden twists. Just weeks ago, he was preparing to spend February indoors training and assisting at his father's restaurant in Kirkcaldy, where he serves as a supervisor and occasional chef. Then, an unexpected phone call changed everything.
"I was at home, getting family time and training, helping my dad out during the winter," Sharif recalls. "We'd read media speculation about Bangladesh possibly withdrawing, but I thought it was just noise. When I got the call saying we'd been invited to India and I'd be going, I was shocked—it was all so sudden. I didn't think Bangladesh would pull out; I assumed they'd resolve something."
His Pakistani heritage complicated visa processing, delaying his arrival in India until just two days before Scotland's first warm-up game. "It was a bit challenging," he admits. "Other World Cups, you know you're going, so you prepare mentally. This time, it was a call-up out of the blue—exciting, but you have to accept the challenge ahead."
Recalling the 2018 Upset and Looking Ahead
At 34, Sharif is Scotland's fifth most-capped T20 international player, part of a squad blending youth and experience. All six senior players, including Sharif, featured in Scotland's historic one-day international victory over England in 2018, where Sharif sealed the win by trapping Mark Wood lbw with a perfect yorker.
"I have no words—it was a fantastic feeling," he reminisces. "In my head, I just needed to bowl my best ball, the yorker I've been nailing for years. When the moment came, I approached the crease, jumped, and released—it felt really good. I thought, 'Yeah, this is the ball.'"
Despite struggling in Scotland's opening loss to West Indies and being left out against Italy, Sharif remains optimistic. "I couldn't execute as I wanted, maybe due to being a bit unprepared, but we can't use that as an excuse. We've had extra sessions now, and I'm looking forward to the big day."
Valentine's Day Doubleheader Adds Spice
In a quirky coincidence, Scotland and England meet twice on Valentine's Day—in cricket at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and later in rugby union's Calcutta Cup in Edinburgh. Sharif sees the cricket match as a prime opportunity to showcase talent against top-tier opponents.
"It's always good to play England because you're facing some of the world's best players—they have it all in bowling, batting, and all-rounders," he says. "But our guys are on form, the batting group is doing well. This is why we're here: to perform and showcase our talent. We'll play to our strengths, give our best, and hopefully come out on top."
With England's campaign on shaky ground and Scotland riding momentum from their win over Italy, Sharif's journey from kitchen duties to World Cup pressure-cooker exemplifies the unpredictable drama of T20 cricket, where underdogs can rise and favorites falter in an instant.
