ICC Replaces Bangladesh With Scotland For T20 World Cup 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after Bangladesh declined to participate under the published match schedule. The decision, taken after weeks of engagement, has triggered fresh uncertainty around the tournament, with attention now shifting to Pakistan’s final call on participation.

Why Bangladesh Was Removed From The Tournament

According to the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised concerns over hosting its scheduled matches in India. The ICC said it conducted multiple rounds of dialogue with the BCB over more than three weeks, including virtual and in-person meetings. It also reviewed independent security assessments and shared detailed security and operational plans, including federal and state arrangements and enhanced protocols for the event. The ICC concluded there was no credible or verifiable security threat to Bangladesh players, officials, or supporters, and therefore decided it would not amend the published schedule.

Deadline, Governance Process, And Scotland’s Entry

Following a meeting mid-week, the BCB was given a 24-hour deadline to confirm participation as scheduled. When no confirmation was received, the ICC proceeded under its governance and qualification processes to identify a replacement. Scotland were selected as the next-highest-ranked T20I side that had missed out on qualification. The change updates the tournament’s Group C line-up, which will now feature England, Italy, Nepal, West Indies, and Scotland.

What This Means For The Tournament’s Credibility

With fixtures finalised close to the event, the ICC cited feasibility constraints in making late schedule changes. The episode highlights the growing role of security assessments, logistical certainty, and governance deadlines in global sport. It also places additional scrutiny on the ICC’s handling of member concerns and the balance between stakeholder engagement and the integrity of published fixtures.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The ICC is cricket’s global governing body and runs world events through its board and event subsidiaries.
• In multi-team tournaments, replacements are typically chosen through pre-declared qualification and ranking criteria.
• Security vetting for international events often includes independent assessments and multi-agency operational planning.
• Scotland is an ICC Full Member in the T20I context and regularly competes in ICC global qualifiers and events.

Pakistan Reaction Keeps Uncertainty Alive

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has criticised the decision, calling Bangladesh’s treatment unfair and arguing they should be required to play as originally scheduled. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan’s participation decision would be taken by the government, indicating the matter remains politically sensitive. If Pakistan were to opt out, the ICC may face renewed pressure over contingencies, replacements, and the stability of the tournament framework.