Scotland enter 2026 T20 World Cup after replacing Bangladesh, confirms ICC

Dubai: 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 in the tournament.

The decision follows Bangladesh’s refusal to play its scheduled matches in India, the co-host of the 20-team tournament to be held from February 7 to March 8, unless their fixtures were relocated to Sri Lanka. The ICC rejected that request, stating that there was no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team, officials, or supporters in India.

"Over a period of more than three weeks, the ICC engaged with the BCB through multiple rounds of dialogue conducted in a transparent and constructive manner, including meetings held both via video conference and in-person," said a statement from ICC.

"As part of this process, the ICC reviewed the concerns cited by the BCB, commissioned and considered independent security assessments from internal and external experts, and shared detailed security and operational plans covering federal and state arrangements, as well as enhanced and escalating security protocols for the event. These assurances were reiterated at several stages, including during discussions involving the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board," added the statement.

"The ICC’s assessments concluded that there was no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team, officials or supporters in India. In light of these findings, and after careful consideration of the broader implications, the ICC determined that it was not appropriate to amend the published event schedule. The ICC also noted the importance of preserving the integrity and sanctity of the tournament schedule, safeguarding the interests of all participating teams and fans, and avoiding the establishment of precedents that could undermine the neutrality and fairness of ICC events."

Scotland, the highest-ranked T20I side not originally qualified, were selected. Currently ranked 14th in the ICC T20I rankings, Scotland sit above seven teams already in the tournament—Namibia, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, the United States, Canada, Oman and Italy.

Scotland will play their matches in Kolkata (February 7 vs WI, February 9 vs Italy, February 14 vs England) and Mumbai (February 17 vs Nepal).

Scotland’s recent performances

Scotland’s elevation comes after a mixed but encouraging run in recent years. The 2024 calendar year marked an important phase for the side in the shortest format, highlighted by their participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

While facing elite opposition, Scotland showed flashes of quality and competitiveness. One of their standout moments came against Oman, where they chased down a target of 151 with ease, winning by seven wickets with more than six overs to spare. Brandon McMullen starred with an unbeaten 61 off 31 balls.

Later in September 2024, Scotland hosted Australia for a short T20I series. Although the hosts showed intent, they were swept aside in a clean sweep, underlining the gap that still exists between leading full-member nations and associate sides.

In 2025, Scotland continued to establish themselves among Europe’s strongest T20 teams. They topped the table in a Scotland T20 Tri-Series featuring Nepal and the Netherlands, aided by a 34-run win over Nepal in Glasgow, where George Munsey struck 78.

However, the year also brought disappointment, as Scotland narrowly missed qualification for the T20 World Cup through the Europe Regional Qualifier after a dramatic last-ball defeat to Jersey in The Hague.

Despite that setback, Scotland blended experience with emerging talent throughout the year. Young players such as Finlay McCreath made immediate impressions, including a player-of-the-match performance on debut against the Netherlands. Overall, Scotland’s recent results demonstrated depth, resilience, and the ability to compete consistently at the international T20 level.

Heavy financial and sporting losses for Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup is expected to have severe financial and cricketing consequences. By not participating, Bangladesh stand to lose millions of dollars in revenue, face potential ICC fines, and risk a reduction in future ICC income.

According to BCB officials, around 55–60 percent of the board’s annual income comes from ICC distributions. By skipping the tournament, Bangladesh would forfeit their guaranteed share of ICC revenue tied to global events, along with all performance-based earnings.

Estimates suggest the total loss could be around $30 million, representing Bangladesh’s approximate 5% share of ICC annual revenue.

Each participating team is set to receive $300,000 simply for taking part, with additional prize money available for match wins and progression. The ICC has increased prize money by 20 percent compared to the 2024 edition, with the champions set to earn $3 million. Bangladesh will miss out on all of these earnings, along with player match fees and bonuses.

Media reports also indicate that the ICC could impose a fine of around $2 million if Bangladesh are deemed to have breached participation obligations without valid justification. There are also concerns about broader repercussions, including potential strain on bilateral relations. Bangladesh are scheduled to host India later this year, and any cancellation of that series could further dent broadcasting and sponsorship revenues.

Beyond finances, the cricketing impact could be significant. By missing this T20 World Cup, Bangladesh risk losing automatic qualification for the next edition and may be forced into a qualification pathway instead of securing direct entry. There is also the possibility of reduced influence within ICC committees and voting structures in future cycles.

As Scotland prepare to take their place on the global stage, Bangladesh are left facing both immediate losses and long-term uncertainty over the direction of their international cricket.

Bangladesh, Scotland, T20 World Cup, ICC, Cricket