Scotland Men’s Cricket Coach Doug Watson Resigns After T20 World Cup Qualifier Failure

Doug Watson has stepped down as Scotland men's head coach following the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after losses to Italy and Jersey in the Europe Region Final. Watson, a former South Africa cricketer, was initially appointed interim head coach in 2023 and took over permanently in early 2024, leading Scotland to the 2024 T20 World Cup where they narrowly missed the Super Eight stage. Despite these successes and the team leading the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 points table, a review of recent results and planning for future fixtures prompted Cricket Scotland to seek a coaching change. Watson expressed disappointment at leaving but reflected positively on his time with the squad and coaching staff and looks forward to spending more time with his family. Cricket Scotland will begin the recruitment process for a new head coach, aiming for an appointment before the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 series in Namibia in March 2026. The organization acknowledged Watson's contributions to the team's performance and culture and wished him well for the future.