The ICC has made a major and surprising decision regarding the T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh has been removed from the tournament, which is scheduled to begin on February 7th and is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The reason for this is the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to travel to India, citing concerns about the safety of its players and officials. This decision has sent shockwaves throughout the cricket world.
Schedule Update: Scotland Gets Big Chance
The ICC has replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. Scotland immediately accepted the opportunity.
Scotland will now play in Group C alongside England, Italy, West Indies, and Nepal. Importantly, Scotland will play the same matches that were originally scheduled for Bangladesh, on the same dates and at the same venues.
Previously, Bangladesh was scheduled to play West Indies on February 7th, Italy on February 9th, England on February 14th (in Kolkata), and Nepal on February 17th (in Mumbai).
This entire schedule will now apply to Scotland. The ICC has clarified that the team has changed, but the dates, times, group, and all other aspects remain the same.
Why Bangladesh Was Removed from the Tournament
According to the ICC, Bangladesh was given repeated assurances regarding security. Even an independent security assessment found no credible threat. Despite this, the BCB refused to travel to India and demanded that their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, which was not feasible so close to the start of the tournament.
The ICC stated clearly in its official statement: “The International Cricket Council has replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming T20 World Cup because of an impasse over security concerns that Bangladesh raised about playing 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 stated that the BCB was given 24 hours to confirm their participation, but no confirmation was received within the stipulated time. Several meetings, video calls, and face-to-face discussions took place over the past three weeks, but Bangladesh remained firm in its decision.
With Scotland’s inclusion, Group C has become even more interesting. This is a great opportunity for the team, while Bangladesh’s elimination is being considered one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.
