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The major change in 2012 will see the Scotland Lions squad play seven 3-day games against English county opposition and the Marylebone Cricket Club. With six full-time and two part-time Scottish based cricketers, in addition to the emerging crop of players vying to get into the senior Scotland side, these games will give additional multi-day match experience to the current and potential future international players.

In all, the national squad will play two 4 day matches, five ICC One Day Matches (3 ODIs) and twelve matches in the Clydesdale Bank 40. The senior squad will also undertake a training camp in Sri Lanka ahead of the World T20 qualifying where they will compete in a minimum of seven T20 fixtures.

This programme is the largest undertaken by a national and development squad and is designed to allow head coach Peter Steindl the opportunity to continue the excellent progress made by the Scotland side over the past two years.

Scotland's busy domestic summer will start on 6th May in what promises to be a fantastic occasion at the Citylets Grange as the Saltires take on current Clydesdale Bank 40 Champions, Surrey, in Edinburgh followed, the next day, with the visit of the Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Bothwell Castle Policies will then get the opportunity to host the Welsh Dragons and the Hampshire Hawks for the first senior Scotland fixture at this venue since 2000.

Scotland will play the United Arab Emirates and Canada in the Intercontinental Cup and 50 over Intercontinental Cup League, with the latter counting towards qualification to the 2015 ICC World Cup.

The major match of the Scottish summer will take place on 12 August against the current number 1 Test team in the world, England at the Citylets Grange, Edinburgh.

Commenting on the schedule, Steindl said "the increase in game time for both the National and Lions sides is a vital part of our development. The schedule will provide all of our players with the chance to develop their skills in pressurised environments. We are looking forward to the challenge that 2012 will provide us".

Scotland/Saltires and Scotland Lion Fixtures 2012

February

16- 19 United Arab Emirates v Scotland, Intercontinental Cup

March

7 One Day United Arab Emirates v Scotland, Intercontinental Cup league

9 One Day United Arab Emirates v Scotland, Intercontinental Cup league

13-24 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers, Dubai

April

24-26 Scottish Lions v Warwickshire (3 Day match) TBC

May

6 Scottish Saltires v Surrey Citylets Grange, Edinburgh CB40

7 Scottish Saltires v Nottinghamshire Outlaws CB40, Trent Bridge

13 Scottish Saltires v Welsh Dragons Bothwell Policies CB40

20 Scottish Saltires v Hampshire, Bothwell Policies CB40

27 Durham Dynamos v Scottish Saltires CB40, Emitates IOC

June

4 Hampshire v Scottish Saltires The Rose Bowl, Hampshire CB40

5 Surrey v Scottish Saltires The Kia Oval CB40

20-23 Scotland Lions v MCC TBC

26- 28 Scottish Lions v Lancashire TBC

July

4-7 Scotland v Canada, Intercontinental Cup TBC

9 Scotland v Canada, Intercontinental Cup league TBC

11 Scotland v Canada, Intercontinental Cup league TBC

15 Somerset v Scottish Saltires Taunton, CB40

17-19 Leicestershire v Scotland Lions, Grace Rd

22 Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Scottish Saltires Trent Bridge

29 Welsh Dragons v Scottish Saltires, SWALEC Stadium, Wales

August

5 Scottish Saltires v Durham Dynamos, Citylets Grange

7-9 Derbyshire v Scottish Lions, Citylets Grange

12 Scotland v England, Citylets Grange

19 Scottish Saltires v Somerset, Citylets Grange

28-30 Durham v Scottish Lions TBC

September

4-6 Northants v Scottish Lions, TBC