Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the 2026 T20 World Cup, according to the ICC’s updated calendar.

Scotland will play in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in place of Bangladesh, according to an official confirmation from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The action comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to play in the event based on the match schedule that was made public. Bangladesh, who had initially qualified for the tournament, will be replaced by Scotland, who is now rated 14th in the T20I rankings, along with England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies, in Group C.

According to the ICC, the decision was made following a thorough review procedure that involved several rounds of discussion with the BCB over a period of more than three weeks. Bangladesh’s worries regarding playing matches in India were addressed by the board through both in-person and video talks. There was no real threat to the Bangladeshi team, authorities, or supporters, according to independent security evaluations conducted by both internal and external specialists. Additionally, the ICC provided the BCB with comprehensive operational and security plans, which were reaffirmed at several points during the process, including during talks with the ICC Business Corporation Board.

Bangladesh was given a final 24-hour window to confirm their participation, but the ICC never heard back. In order to choose a replacement team, the governing body followed established governance and qualification procedures. Based on their recent results in ICC competitions and their current worldwide rating, Scotland—who had just missed out on qualifying for the T20 World Cup—were considered the best replacement. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, the squad shocked cricket fans by upsetting Bangladesh, and in the 2024 tournament, they placed third in Group B.

Scotland’s participation guarantees that the tournament’s schedule will not change, with games scheduled to start on February 7. Scotland will now play England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies in Group C matches, providing the European team a huge chance to show off their skills on a worldwide scale. The ICC emphasized that the choice was made in order to preserve the tournament’s integrity and adhere to its set of qualifying guidelines.

“No double standards”: Following the ICC T20 World Cup move on Bangladesh, the PCB looks to the government

Mohsin Naqvi, head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), voiced concerns about the unfair treatment of Bangladesh prior to the ICC declaration. He told reporters in Lahore that Pakistan will follow government directives on the issue and that there were other backup plans in place.

Naqvi further emphasized that one nation cannot impose conditions on another, saying that Pakistan is more bound by the government’s decision than the ICC’s. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will make the final choice about Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup, he said, adding that the PCB has several plans and is ready for any eventuality.