ICC to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for T20 World Cup:How the Scottish team earned their place despite being ranked 14th?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to invite Scotland to the T20 World Cup 2026 after Bangladesh did not make any formal communication with the apex cricket body at the end of its 24-hour deadline. Bangladesh, on Thursday, reiterated their stance of not being willing to play the T20 World Cup in India after the country’s sports advisor, Asif Nazrul, had a meeting with players and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials. The ICC had earlier rejected Bangladesh’s request for a change in venue and offered an ultimatum: play in India or be replaced. ICC set to invite Scotland for T20 World Cup after Bangladesh’s boycott BCB president Aminul Islam, a day ago, announced that they will stick to their decision and once again communicate their stance to the ICC. But as per Cricbuzz, the BCB are yet to formally reach out to the ICC. “We indicated to the ICC that since our government is reluctant (to let us play in India), we want to take that option. Still, they denied our request. We will communicate with the ICC today. We are ready to play the World Cup in Sri Lanka. We don’t want to play in India,” he had said. However, with there being no official communication from the BCB to the ICC, it is only inevitable that Bangladesh will not be part of the T20 World Cup 2026 and a replacement team will be picked, which is likely to be Scotland in this case. Also read: Bangladesh slams ICC in T20 World Cup controversy: BCB cites India’s UAE ‘privilege’ in Champions Trophy after refusing Pakistan visit Why Scotland is likely to replace Bangladesh at T20 World Cup? So one might wonder, why will Scotland be picked for the T20 World Cup as a replacement for Bangladesh? And why not any other team? The answer to that is simple. Scotland are eligible to be Bangladesh’s replacement based on ICC team rankings for T20Is. Richie Berrington and his team had failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup through the European Qualifiers, finishing fourth behind the Netherlands, Italy and Jersey. Since Scotland are ranked 14th (higher than other non-qualified teams), they will be included as a replacement for Bangladesh. To say it in another way, Scotland will be the correct pick for a replacement side as they are the next highest-ranked team after Bangladesh and among those who have not made it to the tournament. Also read: Bangladesh set to incur losses worth crores after World-Cup boycott: Will they be banned by ICC? Did Pakistan provoke B’desh to make move? Scotland replaced Zimbabwe at 2009 T20 World Cup This is, however, not the first time that Scotland have found themselves in line to replace a team at a T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe had opted out of the 2009 T20 World Cup in England due to political reasons and Scotland had come in as a replacement. The team captained by Gavin Hamilton had lost both their Group D matches to South Africa and New Zealand. So far, Scotland have been part of six ICC events (3 ODI World Cups and 6 T20 World Cups).
Bangladesh adamant about not playing in India, Asif Nazrul cites ‘security concerns’ Asif Nazrul clearly stated that the stance of Bangladesh’s interim government has not changed with regard to playing the T20 World Cup in India. “Now this ICC tournament is being held in India. No matter how much the ICC says there is no security risk, the ICC does not have its own country. The country where my player was not safe – and where the Indian cricket board, which is an extended arm of the government, failed or was unwilling to provide him security under pressure from extremists – that is the country hosting this tournament,” he had said on Thursday. A Cricbuzz report also revealed that his meeting with the Bangladesh players was basically to inform them of their decision to not play in India, instead of seeking their consent in this whole matter.