Scotland replaces Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday announced Scotland as the replacement for Bangladesh in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7. The European nation was selected on the basis of ICC rankings and has previously featured in six of the tournament’s nine editions.
The decision follows a prolonged standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC over Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for its matches. Bangladesh cited security concerns, shortly after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman for the IPL 2026 season.
The BCB had requested a change in its group, which would have allowed it to play all its matches in Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host. The request was, however, denied by the ICC, which assured that security arrangements were adequate at all venues scheduled to host Bangladesh’s games.
Bangladesh had until Thursday to decide on its participation, and the country’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, eventually confirmed that it would not be part of the biennial event.
Published on Jan 24, 2026
