Kyle Coetzer steps down as Scotland captain

Kyle Coetzer, the skipper of the Scotland side, has decided to relinquish his captaincy responsibilities after their league match of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two 2019-23 against the United Arab Emirates on June 3 at the Moosa Stadium in Texas. 

The 38-year old has been one of the mainstays of the Scotland outfit and will be making his 214th appearance for the national side against UAE, which is the third-most by a player for them. 

Coetzer is also the highest run-getter for them in the fifty-over format, with 2867 runs in 73 matches at an average of 42.1, including five centuries. He recently led the team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 after they qualified on the back of consistent performances. 

In a statement released by Scotland Cricket, Coetzer said, "I have thought long and hard about my decision to step down as captain of the Scotland men’s side and have decided this test against the UAE will be my last at the helm.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to lead this group through various stages in our growth and development and captain my country, and I will look back on time with such fondness. I’m extremely proud of where we have got to, and I’m even more excited with where this team can go under its next leader."

“It’s been fantastic to see how the players are managing themselves on the field recently, and to effectively have more than one leader out there has been a really positive and encouraging sign for me. It was this that made me feel it was the right time to share my decision and step down.

“I’m so grateful to have been able to impact this group of players and help Scotland through this phase of cricket that I’ve been involved in. I’ve certainly given it my all, and I hope the players and fans also feel it’s been a positive experience. Although part of me is sad to be stepping down, I’m happy with where the team currently sits, and I’m full of anticipation about what’s to come next for us all."

“My biggest driving force over the years has been to help the team have everything they need and lead them in every way I can. Moving forward, I have no desire to stop playing and will be giving everything I have to my fellow players and the next captain – going out and scoring as many runs as I possibly can for Scotland remains the focus."

“We have one more game in the USA, and I plan to get my head down and try to enjoy the occasion. We’ve still got points to pick up in the next couple of series, and heading towards the World Cup qualifier, and we want to ensure we achieve automatic qualification for the qualifying tournament, which is a real motivation for me."

“I’m extremely proud and thankful for all the efforts of my teammates and everyone who has helped me along the way. It’s been a great journey so far, and there’s going to be some more exciting cricket to play yet.”

Cricket Scotland Interim Head of Performance Toby Bailey, in a statement, thanked Coetzer for his contribution to Scotland cricket and also revealed that his successor will be appointed before the team’s next series in July against Namibia and Nepal.