Central Stags captain TOM BRUCE is finally set to appear at an ICC World Cup, but it won't be for the BLACKCAPS.

With Scottish heritage through his father, Bruce qualified to represent Scotland last year, having observed the mandatory ICC international stand-down period since his last appearance for New Zealand in February 2020. 

Bruce remains based in Taranaki and is a Stag to the core.

But the globetrotter got to make his ODI debut for Scotland at the end of August 2025 in Ontario, Canada which was hosting key matches in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League Two qualifiers.

Now he's poised to add his first T20 International cap for Scotland at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India.

Those appearances will add to 17 T20i caps for New Zealand from his January 2017 international debut in Napier against Bangladesh, to his last NZ game for the BLACKCAPS at the Mount against India in 2020.

PHOTOSPORT

Fresh off his 100th T20 cap in Napier for the Stags in Napier, and then his T20 career best 95 off 50 balls in the Super Smash high-scoring humdinger in Auckland on Monday, it's been pleasant news for Bruce after the heartbreaker of the Stags narrowly missing out on the Super Smash Finals - by just six runs.

Bruce was named in Scotland's hastily assembled T20 World Cup squad this week after Scotland - as the next cab off the rank - got a surprise, last-minute call-up to replace Bangladesh at the imminent 20-team global event.

"It's all happened very quickly", said Bruce who is hoping to fly out on Monday, once his Visa is stamped. 

"We knew there was a situation developing between India and Bangladesh but as [Scotland] players, we didn't have any confirmation until last Sunday.

"Then I was down at breakfast and AJAZ PATEL gave me a handshake and said congratulations! 

"My phone had actually gone flat overnight, so I didn't realise what he was talking about at first.

"I had about 200 WhatsApp messages there that I didn't know about, about Visas and flights, and had no idea what had happened!"

Bruce says it's a dream come true.

"Part of the reason I switched my allegiance to Scotland was to try and make a World Cup. I want to play against the best nations in the world."

Scotland's T20 World Cup fixtures

All shown in New Zealand dates/time:

• Saturday February 7 v West Indies in Kolkata 10.30pm
• Monday February 9 v Italy in Kolkata 6.30pm 
• Saturday February 14 v England in Kolkata 10.30pm 
• Wednesday February 18 v Nepal in Mumbai 2.30am 

Scotland is in Group C alongside England, the West Indies, Nepal and tournament debutant Italy - after Bangladesh pulled out after a complicated dispute between the India and Bangladesh cricket boards, with the latter citing security of their players as a concern.

The BLACKCAPS, for whom no Stags have been selected, are in Group D with South Africa, UAE, Canada and Afghanistan. 

The preliminary pool play runs from 7 February (Saturday week) until 22 February in India and Sri Lanka, with the Super Eights beginning on Sunday 22 February for the top two teams in each pool.

Coverage of the 2026 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup is available in New Zealand on SKY and the Stags wish Tom all the best for his big adventure. 

The Stags are back in action next week in Wellington, for round six of The Ford Trophy on Wednesday, followed by round seven in Napier on Saturday, 7 February 2026.

Article added: Tuesday 27 January 2026