ICC replaces Bangladesh with Scotland for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India over safety concerns. Scotland joins Group C, ending weeks of uncertainty and ensuring the tournament proceeds as scheduled.
Scotland Replaces Bangladesh in ICC T20 World Cup 2026
New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The tournament is set to begin on February 7, 2026, in India and Sri Lanka. Scotland, as the best-qualified associate nation from northwestern Europe, will compete in Group C alongside Italy, Nepal, West Indies, and England, ending weeks of uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation.
The decision comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) repeatedly refused to travel to India for the tournament. The BCB had formally requested the ICC to shift their matches to Sri Lanka, citing security and safety concerns.
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However, the ICC rejected this request following independent security assessments, which concluded that there was no direct threat and rated overall risk in India as low to moderate.
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Despite reassurances, Bangladesh leadership remained firm, with BCB President Aminul Islam stating that while Bangladesh wanted to play the World Cup, they would not play in India.
Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul echoed the sentiment, claiming the ICC had failed to adequately address their security concerns.
Prior to the final call, the ICC had been in ongoing communication with Cricket Scotland to prepare for a possible replacement. Meanwhile, there was some uncertainty over whether Bangladesh might reconsider its stance.
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ICC Chairman Jay Shah, present in Dubai, oversaw the formal decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland, ensuring the tournament’s schedule remains intact. The ICC had previously warned Bangladesh of strict action if they refused to tour India, which ultimately led to the replacement decision.
Relations between the ICC, BCB, and India had been tense for weeks. Controversy escalated when Kolkata Knight Riders, an IPL franchise, released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman amid political concerns, further fueling BCB’s refusal.
With Bangladesh now out of the tournament, Scotland steps in, giving them a significant opportunity to compete on the global stage. The decision clears the path for a smooth T20 World Cup and resolves a protracted standoff over security concerns.
