ICC Replaces Bangladesh with Scotland in Men T20 World Cup 2026 Amid Scheduling Dispute

Scotland Replaces Bangladesh in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to participate under the tournament’s published match schedule. The decision follows weeks of consultations and has introduced fresh uncertainty, with attention now turning to Pakistan’s final stance on participation.

Why Bangladesh Was Dropped from the Tournament

According to the ICC, the BCB expressed reservations about playing its scheduled matches in India , citing security-related concerns. The ICC said it engaged extensively with Bangladesh for over three weeks through both virtual and in-person discussions.
During this period, the ICC reviewed independent security assessments , shared detailed operational plans, and outlined central and state-level security arrangements , including enhanced protocols for teams and officials.

After these reviews, the ICC concluded that there was no credible or verifiable security threat to Bangladesh players, officials, or supporters. As a result, it decided not to revise the already-published tournament schedule.

Deadline, Governance Process, and Scotland’s Inclusion

Following a mid-week ICC meeting, Bangladesh was given a 24-hour deadline to confirm participation under the existing schedule. When no confirmation was received, the ICC invoked its governance framework to activate replacement procedures.
Scotland was selected as the next-highest-ranked T20I team that had narrowly missed qualification, in line with pre-declared criteria.

With this change, Group C of the tournament will now feature England, Italy, Nepal, West Indies, and Scotland , updating the competitive landscape of the event.

Implications for Tournament Integrity

The episode highlights how security assessments, logistical certainty, and governance deadlines increasingly shape decisions in global sporting events. The ICC noted that making late schedule changes was not feasible, given broadcasting, travel, and operational constraints.
The decision has also sparked debate over how international federations balance member concerns with the need to protect the credibility and stability of published fixtures .

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The ICC is the global governing body for cricket

• Replacement teams are chosen using pre-declared ranking and qualification rules

• International events rely on independent security assessments and multi-agency planning

• Scotland regularly competes in ICC T20I global events and qualifiers

Pakistan’s Response and Ongoing Uncertainty

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has criticised the ICC’s handling of the situation, calling the treatment of Bangladesh unfair. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that Pakistan’s participation decision would ultimately be taken by the government , indicating the issue’s political sensitivity.
If Pakistan were also to withdraw, the ICC could face renewed pressure regarding contingency planning, replacements, and the overall robustness of the tournament framework.