Bangladesh has been officially eliminated from the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, with Scotland confirmed as their replacement following an ICC announcement on Friday, January 23. The lCC made this historic decision after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to participate in matches scheduled in India, citing unresolved security concerns, despite multiple opportunities to resolve them. Scotland will be taking Bangladesh’s exact spot in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy for the tournament running from February 7 to March 1 across India and Sri Lanka.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah convened a crucial meeting in Dubai on Friday to finalize Bangladesh’s fate, with the board voting 14-2 in favor of keeping Bangladesh’s matches in India, following an independent security assessment that rated the threat as “low to moderate.”
Why Bangladesh Withdrew From The Tournament
Bangladesh’s exit stemmed from a security dispute that escalated into a diplomatic crisis between the BCB and the ICC. The BCB appealed to relocate their World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns, but the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee rejected this request, clarifying it cannot overturn ICC decisions. The Board of Directors voted 14-2 against moving Bangladesh’s fixtures from India after an independent security assessment rated the threat as “low to moderate.” Bangladesh’s interim government intervened through its sports ministry advisor, Asif Nazrul, who insisted that the government, not the BCB, held final authority.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah considered taking strict action against BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul for publicly announcing the withdrawal before officially informing the ICC. suggesting they should have left the security decision to individual players rather than imposing a blanket withdrawal. He noted that in most countries facing security concerns, boards present the security arrangements to players and allow them to make personal choices without punishment.
Scotland’s Entry and Tournament Schedule
Scotland secured their replacement spot via official ICC confirmation on January 24, marking their sixth T20 World Cup appearance despite finishing behind Italy, Netherlands, and Jersey in European qualifiers. Their superior ICC rankings and tournament experience earned them the selection over other contenders. Scotland will face West Indies on February 7 in Kolkata for their opener, followed by Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 at Eden Gardens, before concluding their group stage against Nepal on February 17 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The Scottish team previously competed in the 2022 and 2024 editions, delivering competitive performances against Australia and England but failing to reach Super 8 stages both times.
