The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the 2026 T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh team refused to play in India.
Reports indicate that the ICC had recently given the Bangladesh Cricket Board 24 hours to resolve the matter, but when the issue remained unresolved, the governing body took the final decision to include Scotland.
According to sources, the ICC Chief Executive informed the ICC Board in writing on Saturday morning that Bangladesh’s demands were not in accordance with ICC policy and that the board’s decision had not been implemented. Consequently, Scotland has been officially invited to participate in the tournament. The letter was also sent to Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam, who is a member of the ICC Board.
Scotland earned this opportunity based on their past performances in ICC events and their current global ranking of 14th. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Scotland finished third in Group B, and in 2021, they notably defeated Bangladesh, creating a major upset. Cricket Scotland’s Chief Executive has not yet issued an immediate response to the invitation.
The ICC decision ensures that the tournament maintains competitive balance while rewarding teams with strong international records and proven performance on the global stage.
