The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly decided to replace Bangladesh with Scotland at the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after Bangladesh continued to decline travel to India for the tournament. According to a Cricbuzz report, the decision follows weeks of unresolved discussions between the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The report states that ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta informed board members over the weekend that Bangladesh had failed to comply with the previously agreed tournament schedule. With no resolution in sight, the ICC moved forward with enforcing its position and formally invited Scotland to take Bangladesh’s place in the global event.
Bangladesh official Replace with Scotland
The standoff stemmed from Bangladesh’s firm refusal to play World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns. The BCB had pushed for relocating their fixtures to Sri Lanka, a proposal that the ICC declined to accept. Despite several rounds of negotiations, the matter remained unresolved.
According to sources, the ICC notified the BCB via email on Friday after Bangladesh conveyed that its government had not approved travel to India for the tournament, which is scheduled to begin on February 7. The situation escalated earlier in the week when the ICC Board held an emergency virtual meeting, where a majority of directors reportedly supported replacing Bangladesh if they did not confirm participation.
Bangladesh had been placed in Group C, with matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai. However, diplomatic tensions and recent developments—including the release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from an IPL franchise—further complicated the issue.
Scotland’s inclusion is reportedly based on their steady performances in recent ICC events and a world ranking of 14. They will now join Group C alongside West Indies, England, Italy, and Nepal.
While the ICC has not yet made an official announcement, sources insist the decision is final, marking a significant development ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
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