After the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier brought out the best from Scotland's players, the squad and coaching staff are keen to capitalise and continue testing themselves against the elite nations of world cricket.

Scotland finished fourth in the six-team Qualifier after a series of exciting and thrilling performances, which concluded on Friday in a 1-wicket defeat to Ireland, a result that ended hopes of qualification for the eight-team ICC Women's World Cup later in the year. However, having claimed the scalp of one full member (West Indies), coming within a ball of beating another, and running both Pakistan and Bangladesh close, the Scots showed they are here to stay on the global stage.

Captain Kathryn Bryce underlined her credentials as a world-class talent by being named Player of the Tournament, and she was joined in the Team of the Tournament by Katherine Fraser, who picked up 10 wickets across the five fixtures whilst chipping in with some vital lower order runs.

Kathryn Bryce: Pic Cricket Scotland

With the squad dispersing back to their clubs and counties, attention now turns to the domestic summer, but Head Coach Craig Wallace is conscious that while much progress has been made, further steps forward can only happen with support from external sources. Scotland currently have no fixtures scheduled for the remainder of 2025.

"The standard across the Qualifier was really high, all the games were really competitive, and for us to be a part of that and contribute to that was hugely pleasing," said Craig. "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."