The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially ruled Bangladesh out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, confirming Scotland as their replacement in the tournament. The decision was taken after Bangladesh refused to play its scheduled matches in India.

Why Bangladesh Was Dropped

The issue arose when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised security concerns and requested that its matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka. The ICC held multiple discussions with the BCB over the past three weeks to address these concerns.

After conducting an internal security assessment, the ICC concluded that there was no credible threat to the Bangladeshi players, officials, or fans in India. The council assured Bangladesh of strict security arrangements and adherence to international safety protocols. However, the BCB stood firm on its demand for a venue change.

ICC’s Final Decision

Following a high-level meeting, the ICC issued a 24-hour deadline to the Bangladesh Cricket Board to confirm its participation under the existing schedule. When no response was received within the deadline, the ICC invoked its tournament regulations and removed Bangladesh from the competition.

As a result, Scotland has been officially included in the T20 World Cup 2026 as Bangladesh’s replacement.

Tournament Schedule Remains Unchanged

The ICC has made it clear that the tournament schedule will not be altered. Scotland will now take Bangladesh’s slot and compete under the same fixtures previously allocated.

This decision marks one of the toughest stances taken by the ICC in recent years, reinforcing its position on adherence to tournament commitments and schedules.