ICC Confirms Scotland to Replace Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026

The ICC announced on Friday, January 23 that Scotland has been officially selected to replace Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh opted to withdraw from the tournament, stating that the Cricket governing body had not adequately resolved its security concerns ahead of the global event.

On Saturday, January 24, the ICC communicated via formal letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that Scotland would be taking Bangladesh’s place in the tournament. ICC Chairman Jay Shah convened a meeting in Dubai on Friday to deliberate on Bangladesh’s participation in the event. In a final effort to challenge the decision, Bangladesh requested the matter be referred to the ICC’s dispute resolution committee. However, the committee clarified that it could not serve as an appeal forum and upheld the ICC’s final decision.

In this context, it was determined that Scotland would fill Bangladesh’s spot when the BCB did not provide a definitive response regarding its participation. Following internal discussions and a decision by players to boycott the tournament, the BCB held a news conference on Thursday explaining the situation.

Where Will Scotland Play?

Scotland will now compete in its sixth T20 World Cup. The team previously participated in the 2022 and 2024 editions but did not advance to the Super 8 stage despite several promising performances.

In the 2024 tournament, Scotland challenged cricket powerhouses like Australia and England before being defeated. Although Scotland competed in the European qualifiers, they finished behind Jersey, Italy, and the Netherlands in that campaign.

Despite this, Scotland’s ICC rankings positioned them as the next eligible team to replace Bangladesh. Scotland will be placed in Group C alongside Italy, Nepal, England, and the West Indies. With Bangladesh’s withdrawal, Scotland’s first match in the T20 World Cup 2026 will be on February 7 against the West Indies in Kolkata.

On February 9, Scotland will face Italy at Eden Gardens, followed by a high-profile encounter against England on February 14. Scotland’s group stage campaign will conclude with a match against Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.

What Led Bangladesh to Withdraw from the T20 World Cup?

Reports suggest that tensions began after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested that the Kolkata Knight Riders remove Mustafizur Rahman from their ipl 2026 squad. Although no official explanation was provided, strong diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India were widely cited as contributing to the dispute.

Ultimately, the Bangladesh Cricket Board cited security concerns as the primary reason for refusing to send its squad to India for the T20 World Cup. This created a standoff between the ICC and the BCB, with the international governing body asserting that the security issues raised were limited in scope and did not warrant altering the existing tournament schedule.

With Scotland now confirmed as Bangladesh’s replacement, cricket fans around the world will be watching closely as the team prepares for a major opportunity on the global stage at the T20 World Cup 2026.