Scotland Replaces Bangladesh In T20 World Cup 2026, ICC Makes Official Announcement

Scotland has officially been confirmed as the replacement for Bangladesh in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin in India and Sri Lanka on February 7. The move comes after the International

Cricket Council (ICC) imposed a 24-hour deadline on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which went largely unheeded, prompting decisive action on Saturday, January 24.

It was widely anticipated that Bangladesh would be replaced, and the final decision was confirmed when ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta reportedly informed the ICC Board that the BCB's requests were inconsistent with ICC policies.

In his communication, marked to all Board members and BCB president Aminul Islam, Gupta reportedly highlighted that "there was no other option but to invite another country - Scotland - in place of Bangladesh for the marquee event. "

Cricket Scotland has also received a formal invitation from the ICC to participate in the championship. Although Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade had not responded immediately, Cricbuzz reported that hotlines between Dubai and Edinburgh were active as the decision was finalized.

Scotland earned the World Cup berth based on their consistent performances in past ICC events and their current No. 14 ranking. In the 2024 edition, they finished third in Group B on equal points with England but missed out due to net run rate. The team also had notable wins in 2022 against West Indies and in 2021 against Bangladesh in the group stages, demonstrating their growing competitiveness.

Under the new arrangement, Scotland will be placed in Group C and will face West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 in Kolkata, before traveling to Mumbai to play Nepal on February 17.

The ICC had engaged extensively with the BCB, giving them time to reconsider their stance on playing in India. However, after the January 21 board meeting, where all but two members rejected Bangladesh's request to relocate their matches, the BCB failed to comply within the 24-hour timeframe. Despite sending a letter after the deadline, the ICC decided that replacing Bangladesh was necessary to protect the integrity of the World Cup schedule.