NewKerala.com

Scotland Replaces Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026 After BCB Refusal

The ICC has officially replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup in India. This follows the Bangladesh Cricket Board's refusal to send its team, citing security concerns and a lack of government travel permission. The BCB had requested its matches be moved to Sri Lanka, which the ICC rejected. Scotland's inclusion is based on the latest ICC rankings and their prior experience in the tournament.

Key Points: Scotland Replaces Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026

  • Bangladesh replaced by Scotland
  • BCB refused travel to India
  • Security concerns cited
  • ICC rankings used for replacement
2 min read

ICC replaces Bangladesh with Scotland at T20 World Cup 2026 after BCB refusal to play in India

ICC replaces Bangladesh with Scotland for T20 World Cup 2026 in India after BCB cites security concerns and government denies travel permission.

"BCB stands firm in its decision not to play its ICC Men's World Cup matches in India - Aminul Islam Bulbul"

New Delhi, January 24

All avenues for Bangladesh to participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India are closed, as they have now been replaced by Scotland, according to the ICC, reports ESPNcricinfo.

According to ESPNcricinfo reports, the ICC sent the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) an email on Friday evening informing them of the decision, after the BCB communicated that the Bangladesh government had not granted them permission to travel to India.

The report further added that BCB had taken the issue to the ICC's Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). However, officical statement regarding BCB taking this matter to the DRC, or what the ICC's response was not come out to the public.

The ICC's decision comes after three weeks of talks between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC over Bangladesh's refusal to send its team to India for the marquee tournament due to security concerns.

Scotland was included based on the latest ICC rankings. Also, the European Nation has previously played in six of the nine editions of the Men's T20 World Cup (2007, 2009, 2016, 2021, 2022, and 2024).

Earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board had requested that the International Cricket Council shift their matches outside India to Sri Lanka, citing "security and safety concerns" for their players.

BCB's request came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had instructed the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur from their squad ahead of the 2026 season, amid violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

After this, ICC rejected the BCB's request to move their matches out of India for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup via video conference, which was convened to discuss the way forward.

The BCB President, Aminul Islam Bulbul, then confirmed that the BCB stands firm in its decision not to play its ICC Men's World Cup matches in India, following the ICC's rejection of its request.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is so sad for cricket 😔. A World Cup without a full-member nation feels incomplete. Politics should not interfere with sports. Hope the fans in Bangladesh understand it was their board's decision, not India's.
A
Aman W
Honestly, the security concerns seem like an excuse. India has hosted the entire IPL, World Cups, and bilateral series safely for years. BCB's stance looks more political after the Mustafizur issue with KKR. Their loss, Scotland's gain!
S
Sarah B
As a neutral cricket fan, this is a messy situation. The ICC's ranking-based replacement seems fair on paper, but it sets a worrying precedent. Can boards now refuse to tour and face only replacement, not points deduction or fine?
V
Vikram M
Scotland deserves this chance! They've been performing well in qualifiers and T20s. It's good for global cricket to give associate nations a spot in the big league. Sorry for Bangladesh players, but excited to see some new faces on the world stage.
K
Kriti O
The whole episode is disappointing. Cricket is suffering. The BCCI-ICC-BCB tussle is hurting the spirit of the game. As an Indian, I feel we should be more magnanimous hosts, but the BCB's refusal based on "security" feels disrespectful to our capabilities.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50