Bangladesh replaced by Scotland in T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that Bangladesh will not take part in the upcoming T20 World Cup and has been replaced by Scotland.

According to PTI, the decision was taken after Bangladesh declined to confirm its travel to India, citing security concerns in the aftermath of Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from the Indian Premier League. The ICC had given the BCB a 24-hour deadline to communicate its stand but received no official response within that period.

Senior ICC officials, including chairman Jay Shah, were in Dubai on Friday when the matter was discussed. Later that evening, an email was sent to BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul, formally conveying the decision.

An ICC source told PTI that the governing body had little choice but to move on once the deadline passed without confirmation. As a result, Scotland has been brought in as Bangladesh’s replacement for the tournament.

The BCB is yet to issue a public statement on the development.

Earlier, the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches from India to Sri Lanka. The decision was confirmed during an ICC board meeting, where the proposal was opposed by a 14-2 vote.

Following the ruling, the ICC issued a final ultimatum to the BCB, warning that Bangladesh could be removed from the tournament if it did not confirm travel to India immediately. After a period of uncertainty, the ICC gave the board just one final day to decide on their participation.

Tensions peaked at a recent ICC meeting, where members voted on the next step. A majority supported moving forward with a replacement team if Bangladesh refuses to travel. This vote effectively ends any hope of further negotiation or a change of venue.

The core of the dispute centres on Bangladesh’s refusal to play group-stage matches in Kolkata and Mumbai, citing security concerns. Though the BCB has stood its ground, the ICC’s latest decision makes it clear the tournament will go ahead in India, whether Bangladesh takes part or not.