Scotland is set to replace Bangladesh in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, according to cricket website Cricbuzz, with an official announcement from the ICC expected soon.
The tournament will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and discussions over Bangladesh’s participation have been ongoing amid reported concerns about playing matches in India. Sources say the ICC gave Bangladesh time to reconsider its stance, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board remains firm over security reservations.
With Bangladesh unlikely to participate, the ICC has moved to finalise Scotland as the replacement team.
Scotland slotted into group C
Following the change, Scotland has reportedly been placed in Group C of the preliminary stage and is scheduled to face:
West Indies – February 7 (Kolkata)
Italy – February 9 (Kolkata)
England – February 14 (Kolkata)
Nepal – February 17 (Mumbai)
ICC-Scotland talks underway
Cricbuzz reached out to Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblad for comment but received no immediate response. However, sources claim official communication between Dubai (ICC headquarters) and Edinburgh is already in progress, making Scotland’s inclusion in the World Cup almost certain.
A major shake-up
If confirmed, the decision would mark a major reshuffle in the tournament lineup, boosting Scotland’s presence on the global stage while raising significant questions about Bangladesh’s absence from one of cricket’s biggest events.