Scotland Confirmed as Bangladesh’s Replacement for T20 World Cup 2026, Set to Travel Immediately
Scotland have officially been named as Bangladesh’s replacement for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and plan to travel to India immediately. Cricket Scotland said the squad is already preparing to acclimatise to local conditions ahead of the tournament, which begins on February 7.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) formally invited Scotland following Bangladesh’s withdrawal over security concerns. Despite assurances from the ICC, Bangladesh remained firm in their decision, paving the way for Scotland to step in. In a letter to the ICC, Cricket Scotland accepted the invitation, acknowledging the unusual circumstances under which the opportunity arose.
“Earlier today, I received correspondence from the ICC asking if our men’s team would play at the Men’s T20 World Cup, and we have accepted,” said Cricket Scotland chief executive Trudy Lindblade.
“We are grateful to the ICC for extending this invite. It’s an exciting opportunity for Scotland’s players to compete on the global stage in front of millions of supporters. We also recognise that this chance has arisen under challenging and unique circumstances.”
Lindblade added that the squad has been training for several weeks in preparation for upcoming tours and will now travel to India imminently to acclimatise ahead of their opening match.
How Scotland Replaced Bangladesh
Scotland were selected after an ICC meeting in Dubai on Friday, chaired by Jay Shah, following Bangladesh’s official withdrawal over security concerns. Bangladesh had requested that the matter be referred to the dispute resolution committee, but the committee ruled it could not act as an appeal forum, allowing the ICC to finalise its decision.
Based on ICC rankings, Scotland emerged as the replacement, despite not qualifying directly through the European pathway. Scotland have participated in five previous T20 World Cups, including 2022 and 2024, where they impressed against top teams but did not advance to the Super 8 stage. In 2024, they pushed both Australia and England to the limit.
Placed in Group C, Scotland will face England, the West Indies, Italy, and Nepal. Their campaign opens against the West Indies on February 7 in Kolkata, followed by matches against Italy on February 9 at Eden Gardens, England on February 14 at the same venue, and Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.
Cricket Scotland is expected to announce its 15-member squad in the coming days.
Comments are closed.