Scotland has reportedly replaced Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 following decisive action by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The tournament is scheduled to begin on February 7, 2026, with matches hosted across India and Sri Lanka, marking a significant late change to the competition lineup.
According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has removed Bangladesh from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and extended an invitation to Scotland to take its place. The decision comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) failed to comply with key ICC directives within a stipulated timeframe.
The development follows the ICC issuing a 24-hour deadline to the BCB earlier in the week. With no satisfactory resolution provided within the deadline, the ICC moved swiftly on Saturday to enforce its decision.
The move cleared the path for Scotland’s inclusion in the global T20 event.
According to Cricbuzz, ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta formally communicated with the ICC Board, highlighting that the BCB’s demands were not aligned with ICC policy.
In his letter, Gupta reportedly stated that Bangladesh was not adhering to the Board’s decision, leaving the ICC with no alternative but to identify a replacement team.
A copy of the letter was also marked to BCB president Aminul Islam, who is a current member of the ICC Board, underscoring the seriousness of the matter.
At the same time, the ICC sent an official invitation to Cricket Scotland, confirming Scotland’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
While Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade has not yet responded publicly, discussions between ICC officials in Dubai and Cricket Scotland representatives in Edinburgh were ongoing on Saturday.
Scotland’s inclusion is reportedly based on its consistent performances in recent ICC tournaments and its current T20 International ranking of 14.
In the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, Scotland finished third in its group, tying on points with England but narrowly missing qualification due to net run rate.
Scotland has also registered memorable wins on the world stage, including victories over:
West Indies in 2022
Bangladesh in the 2021 T20 World Cup
These performances strengthened Scotland’s case as a deserving replacement.
Following the change, Scotland will compete in Group C of the preliminary stage.
February 7: Scotland vs West Indies (Kolkata)
February 9: Scotland vs Italy (Kolkata)
February 14: Scotland vs England (Kolkata)
Scotland will then travel to Mumbai for its final group-stage fixture:
February 17: Scotland vs Nepal
The last-minute change marks one of the most significant pre-tournament developments ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, highlighting the ICC’s firm stance on governance compliance while also rewarding teams that have delivered consistently on the field.