T20 World Cup 2026: Scotland Comments on Taking Bangladesh’s Spot
Cricket Scotland expresses sympathy for Bangladesh, defends team’s credentials after ICC confirms replacement
Bangladesh, Jan 27 : Following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Scotland has been invited to replace the team in the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8. Cricket Scotland expressed sympathy for Bangladesh, acknowledging the unconventional circumstances surrounding their entry.
Trudy Lindblade, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, said, “We certainly have sympathy for the Bangladesh team. Obviously, this is not how we wanted to go to a World Cup. There is a qualification process, and nobody wants to qualify or attend a World Cup in the way that we have done. We recognise that these are unique circumstances, and we do feel for the Bangladesh players.”
Addressing criticism over Scotland’s inclusion, Lindblade defended her team’s credentials: “We have been invited to participate in the World Cup. We are ranked 14th in the world and are a strong team that plays consistently throughout the year. That World Cup qualifier was not how we normally play, so we are pleased to be at this World Cup. We are happy to step in, even though these are unique and challenging circumstances.”
The ICC confirmed the decision after nearly three weeks of discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which refused to participate according to the published schedule. Bangladesh requested that its matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, citing concerns, though the ICC found no credible or verifiable security risks. Repeated efforts by the ICC, including virtual and in person meetings, failed to resolve the dispute, leading to the appointment of Scotland as the replacement.
The controversy reportedly escalated after the BCCI directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman amid unrest in Bangladesh. In response, the BCB banned IPL broadcasts domestically and formally requested a venue change for their World Cup matches.
The ICC reviewed all concerns and conducted independent security assessments, assuring enhanced federal and state-level protocols for the tournament.
Currently ranked 14th in T20Is, Scotland were the highest-ranked team not originally qualified, positioned above seven other participating nations: Namibia, UAE, Nepal, USA, Canada, Oman, and Italy.
Scotland will now prepare to compete in the T20 World Cup 2026 under these unique circumstances, while recognising the challenges faced by Bangladesh in the lead up to the event.
