Coetzer added to Scotland World T20 qualifier squad

Kyle Coetzer, the Scotland batsman and former captain, has been added to the squad for the 2016 World T20 qualifier starting next month, following batsman Freddie Coleman's withdrawal due to personal circumstances. Coetzer was not a part of the 15-member squad announced on Monday and, on Wednesday, Cricket Scotland sought to clarify his earlier omission, stating the board initially believed the decision was in the player's "best interest", to allow him to concentrate on securing his future in county cricket.

According to Cricket Scotland, the board had spoken with Coetzer before the squad was submitted to the ICC last Friday. The board said that Coetzer believed he would be a part of the squad if he was unable to secure a county deal through July. Coetzer has scored 31 runs in three first-class matches for Northamptonshire this season in Division 2 of the County Championship.

"The organisation initially believed it was acting in Kyle Coetzer's best interest by not selecting him for the WT20Q and allowing him to concentrate on securing his future in county cricket," Cricket Scotland said in a release. "This was based on a number of conversations that were had with the player before the squad was submitted to Dubai last Friday, as to meet the ICC deadline requirements.

"Having since discussed this with the Kyle, he clearly believed that if he was unable to secure a county loan deal through July, he would be included in the squad for the competition. Cricket Scotland has met with Kyle in the last 24 hours and clarified the situation. Both parties will now move forward and wish to state that there is no rift between the player and the organisation."

Coetzer, 31, was part of the World Cup earlier this year and finished as Scotland's leading run-scorer with 253 runs at 42.16 including 156 against Bangladesh in Nelson. In 20 T20Is he has scored 442 runs at 23.26 with a strike-rate of 101.14.

The World T20 qualifier begins on July 9, with co-hosts Scotland scheduled to play their opening game against UAE in Edinburgh. The top six sides from the 14-team tournament will join the 10 Full Members for the 2016 World Twenty20, to be held in India from March 11 to April 3.