Bangladesh has been excluded from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka next month, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to comply with the tournament schedule. Citing security concerns, Bangladesh requested that its matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected the request after independent security assessments confirmed there were no threats to the team in India. In response, the ICC officially announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the tournament.
The dispute has unfolded over the past three weeks, during which Bangladesh repeatedly refused to play in India. The ICC issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the BCB, and after receiving no positive response, made the firm decision to bring Scotland into the competition. Ranked highest among non-qualifying teams, Scotland has been placed in Group C and will face England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies.
Political tensions between India and Bangladesh are seen as a contributing factor to the decision. Issues such as the release of Bangladesh player Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL have strained relations between the cricket boards, while comments by Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul—“We want to play the World Cup but not in India”—further escalated the controversy.
Bangladeshi players have expressed disappointment over the government and board’s handling of the situation, highlighting concerns about the country’s cricketing future. With the tournament starting on February 7, Scotland will now step in to compete in place of Bangladesh, marking a historic opportunity for the team to test its skills on the world stage.