Scotland to Replace Bangladesh in ICC T20 World Cup

Bangladesh will no longer feature in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to participate according to the published schedule.

The ICC confirmed that there was no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh team in India. Despite this, the BCB requested that their matches be moved to Sri Lanka. After careful consideration, the ICC decided not to change the schedule, and the tournament will proceed as planned from 7 February to 8 March.

Over more than three weeks, the ICC engaged with the BCB to address their security concerns through video conferences, in-person meetings, and independent security assessments. Detailed plans and reassurances from both federal and state authorities confirmed that it would be safe for Bangladesh to play in India.

Since the BCB did not confirm participation within the given 24-hour window, the ICC followed its standard procedures and selected Scotland as the replacement team. Scotland, ranked 14th in T20Is, now has a chance to compete on the world stage.

While the decision is disappointing for Bangladeshi cricket fans, it represents a major opportunity for Scotland to showcase their talent on the global stage.