In a major development ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the tournament, which is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the move on Saturday after Bangladesh failed to comply with ICC directives regarding their participation.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta formally notified the ICC Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that the latter’s demands were not in line with ICC policy. As a result, Cricket Scotland received a formal invitation to take Bangladesh’s place in the marquee event.
Scotland, ranked 14th in the ICC T20 rankings, earned the spot based on their past performances in ICC events. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, they famously defeated Bangladesh in the group stage. In previous editions, they also produced notable performances, including a group-stage win over West Indies in 2022.
Scotland will now compete in Group C, facing West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, England on February 14 in Kolkata, before travelling to Mumbai to play Nepal on February 17.
The ICC stood firm on its decision after Bangladesh requested that their matches be relocated out of India, citing security concerns. The ICC assessed the threat level for Bangladesh in India as moderate to low, but the BCB disagreed and submitted fresh objections. The board’s non-compliance ultimately led to their removal from the tournament.
This marks a historic opportunity for Scotland to compete in a major ICC event and underscores the ICC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and scheduling of the World Cup.
Source: Cricbuzz.com
