Bangladesh out, Scotland in for ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2026

In a dramatic pre-tournament development, Bangladesh have been officially removed from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with Scotland confirmed as their replacement, according to reports by Cricbuzz and PTI.

The decision follows a standoff between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which escalated after the BCB failed to comply with a binding ICC Board directive. The ICC had issued Bangladesh a 24-hour ultimatum earlier this week, warning that failure to withdraw demands deemed inconsistent with ICC policy would lead to serious consequences.

On Saturday, the ICC acted.

According to Cricbuzz, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta formally informed the ICC Board that the BCB had not complied within the stipulated timeframe, leaving the global body with no option but to replace Bangladesh in the marquee tournament. The communication was circulated among all Board members and also marked to BCB president Aminul Islam, who is himself an ICC Board member.

Simultaneously, the ICC extended a formal invitation to Cricket Scotland, confirming the associate nation’s participation in the tournament, scheduled to begin on February 7, 2026, across India and Sri Lanka. While Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade did not immediately comment, sources indicated that operational coordination between ICC headquarters in Dubai and officials in Edinburgh began early Saturday, signalling that the decision was already being implemented.

PTI further reported that senior ICC officials, including chairman Jay Shah, were in Dubai on Friday when the final call was taken. An email was reportedly sent late in the evening to BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul, informing him that Bangladesh had failed to officially respond to the ICC within the 24-hour deadline.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board did not get back to the ICC officially after the deadline on whether they were willing to comply, so a decision has been taken,” an ICC source told PTI on condition of anonymity. The source added that the BCB’s decision to hold a press conference in Dhaka before formally communicating with the ICC was considered a breach of protocol.

Scotland’s inclusion is based on their consistent performances in recent ICC events and their current No. 14 ranking in T20 internationals. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Scotland finished third in Group B, level on points with England but missing out on progression due to net run rate. They also made headlines in 2022 with a memorable win over West Indies and topped their group in the 2021 edition after defeating Bangladesh.

As part of the reshuffle, Scotland have been placed in Group C of the preliminary stage. They will begin their campaign against West Indies in Kolkata on February 7, followed by fixtures against Italy (February 9) and England (February 14), before travelling to Mumbai to face Nepal on February 17.

Bangladesh’s exclusion marks one of the most significant and controversial shake-ups in recent ICC history, highlighting the governing body’s increasingly firm stance on compliance and governance ahead of its global tournaments.