The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said India had provided assurances of full security to the Bangladesh cricket team but added that altering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup schedule at a late stage was not feasible.
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla made the statement after the International Cricket Council officially confirmed that Scotland would replace Bangladesh in the upcoming tournament.
The ICC’s decision, announced on Saturday, January 24, 2026, brought an end to a week-long discussion
between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the global governing body. Bangladesh’s withdrawal was triggered by the Bangladeshi government’s refusal to clear the national team for travel to India.
“We wanted Bangladesh to play, and we also assured full security, but since they have made this decision, it is very difficult to change the entire schedule at the last moment. This is why Scotland was brought in,” Rajeev Shukla said as quoted by India Today.
Tensions had escalated earlier after the BCCI reportedly instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 season, citing unspecified “recent developments.” The BCB interpreted the move as an indication that Indian authorities might not be able to guarantee the safety of Bangladeshi nationals.
Subsequently, the ICC engaged in an extended consultation process with the BCB, holding multiple rounds of discussions over a span exceeding three weeks. The talks were conducted both virtually and in person, with the ICC asserting that the engagement was transparent and constructive at all stages.
As part of the process, the ICC examined the concerns raised by the BCB and ordered independent security assessments involving both internal and external experts. It also shared detailed security and operational plans outlining federal and state-level arrangements, along with enhanced and phased security measures for the event.
Such assurances were reiterated at various stages of the process, including deliberations with the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board. The ICC’s evaluations determined that no credible or verifiable security threat existed for the Bangladesh national team, its officials or its supporters in India.
After reviewing the findings and assessing the broader consequences, the ICC decided against making changes to the published schedule. The governing body underlined the importance of maintaining the tournament’s integrity, ensuring fairness for all teams and fans, and steering clear of precedents that could weaken the impartial nature of ICC events.
Following its meeting on Wednesday, the IBC Board asked the BCB to provide confirmation within 24 hours on Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament. With no confirmation forthcoming within the deadline, the ICC proceeded under its established governance and qualification framework to identify a replacement side.
Scotland was selected as the replacement, being the highest-ranked T20I side that had not originally qualified for the tournament. They are currently ranked 14th in the ICC T20I standings, ahead of several teams already participating in the competition, including Namibia, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, the United States of America, Canada, Oman, and Italy.
