Scotland Set to Replace Bangladesh Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
After a second round of talks in Dhaka on Saturday, the ICC said that if Bangladesh does not agree to the original schedule, which includes matches in India, a replacement team will be named immediately.
19th January, 2026: The ICC has reportedly made its position clear. Bangladesh must accept its India-based matches by Wednesday, January 21, or the team will be replaced by Scotland.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) a firm January 21 deadline to confirm the team’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
After a second round of talks in Dhaka on Saturday, the ICC said that if Bangladesh does not agree to the original schedule, which includes matches in India, a replacement team will be named immediately.
Will Scotland Replace Bangladesh in T20 World Cup Group C?
If the BCB does not give a clear “Yes” within 48 hours, the ICC is ready to move forward with a backup plan. Under this plan, Scotland would replace Bangladesh in Group C, the report said.
Based on current ICC T20I rankings, Scotland is the top choice to take Bangladesh’s place. This includes the tournament opener against West Indies on February 7 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Sources say Scotland has already been put on “high alert” to complete travel and visa plans before the end of the month.
Why Is the BCB Refusing to Send Bangladesh to India?
The issue has continued for nearly three weeks. It began after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) earlier this month.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said it has security concerns about playing matches in India. The board also suggested Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament, as a neutral venue.
ICC Rejects BCB’s Requests
The ICC has rejected all requests made by the BCB. A request to swap groups with Ireland, who are scheduled to play all matches in Sri Lanka, was denied.
The ICC also told the BCB that independent security experts found no specific threat to the Bangladesh team in Kolkata or Mumbai.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup Schedule at Risk
Bangladesh is scheduled to start its T20 World Cup campaign against the West Indies on February 7 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
If Bangladesh does not agree to the planned schedule and travel to India, there is a high chance the team could be replaced in the tournament.
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