Craig Wallace seeks opportunities as Scotland face blank fixture schedule
Scotland head coach Craig Wallace has called for help in getting his team more opportunities to test themselves after their impressive performances in the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier.
Scotland finished fourth in the six-team series and saw their qualification hopes dashed after going down to a one-wicket defeat by Ireland on Friday.
But victory over the West Indies, close encounters against Pakistan and Bangladesh and a last-ball defeat by Ireland showed they belonged at that level.
Captain Kathryn Bryce was named player of the tournament and Katherine Fraser joined her in the team of the tournament after taking 10 wickets.
However, the team have limited scope to build on their displays with no fixtures scheduled for the rest of 2025.
Wallace said: 'I think we played some really good cricket in an exciting and attacking style, and I'm just so proud of the whole squad.
'Looking ahead, it's actually quite challenging for us. It's disappointing that we currently don't have any fixtures in the diary as it stands.
'The squad has improved a lot over the last month and everyone has been playing some exceptional cricket, which we want to keep continuing. However, at this stage, the next step is unknown.
'It's really important that we receive more opportunities to play more international cricket as Scotland.
'It's tough to not have any fixtures coming up in the near future, given how well we've just played and in competing with and beating some of the best nations in the world – especially given the lack of support that we do get.
'We need to find a way organisationally, or more likely with external help, to get some fixtures, because other countries are going to keep improving so we need to do the same to stay with them.
'I know everyone at Cricket Scotland is working really hard behind the scenes to try and make things happen, but the budget pressures aligned with being an associate nation means it's very challenging for us.
'Obviously we now have to look forward to the T20 World Cup qualifiers and hopefully build towards that, but there's going to be a lot of cricket between now and then and the players will just have to go away and do that themselves.
'Hopefully they can all have a successful summer and do well with their clubs and counties and put in some match-winning performances.'
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