Dubai (Channel News Pakistan) Scotland will take Bangladesh’s position in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, according to official confirmation from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The action comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to play in the competition in accordance with the match schedule that was made public. Bangladesh, who had initially qualified for the competition, will be replaced by Scotland, now rated 14th in the T20I rankings, who will join Group C alongside England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies.
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 virtual talks. There was no real threat to the Bangladeshi team, authorities, or fans, according to independent security evaluations conducted by both internal and foreign specialists. Additionally, the ICC provided the BCB with comprehensive operational and security plans, which were reaffirmed at several points, including in conversations with the ICC Business Corporation Board.
Bangladesh was given a last 24-hour window to confirm their participation, but the ICC never heard back. In order to choose a new team, the governing body followed established governance and qualifying processes. Based on their previous results in ICC competitions and their current worldwide rating, Scotland—who had just lost out on qualifying for the T20 World Cup—were considered the best substitute. 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.
With matches scheduled to start on February 7, Scotland’s involvement guarantees that the tournament schedule will not change. Scotland will now play England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies in Group C matches, providing the European team with a big chance to show off their skills on a worldwide scale. The ICC emphasized that the choice was made to preserve the tournament’s integrity and adhere to its set qualifying guidelines.
Mohsin Naqvi, head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), voiced concerns about the unjust treatment of Bangladesh prior to the ICC declaration. In an interview with the media in Lahore, he stated that Pakistan’s position would follow government directives and that other backup plans were in place.
Naqvi emphasized that one nation cannot prescribe conditions to another and said that Pakistan is more bound by the government’s ruling than the ICC’s. He stated that once Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns, the final decision on Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup would be taken. He added that the PCB is ready for any eventuality and has several strategies.
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