ICC drops Bangladesh from T20 World Cup, Scotland takes the spot

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially dropped Bangladesh from the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup , replacing them with Scotland , after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send the team to India citing security concerns. The decision ends a month-long uncertainty that began after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered Bangladeshi players, including fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman , to be released from their IPL teams over safety issues.

The BCB responded strongly by banning IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh and insisting that all World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka . The board even suggested swapping their group with Ireland , but the Irish Cricket Board rejected the proposal outright. At the ICC Board meeting, Bangladesh’s stance was overwhelmingly rejected by a 14-2 verdict in favour of the Tigers travelling to India. The ICC then gave the BCB a 24-hour deadline to reverse its decision, but the board remained firm under the influence of Asif Nazrul , a Bangladesh Sports Ministry advisor who had advised against travelling to India despite repeated ICC assurances.

Top ICC officials, including chairman Jay Shah , were reportedly in Dubai on Friday, and a late-night email was sent to BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul informing him that Bangladesh had been replaced. An ICC source said the BCB violated protocol by holding a press conference in Dhaka before officially informing the ICC, and the global body has now notified all participating member nations about the change.

Scotland will now take Bangladesh’s place in Group C, with their four league games scheduled against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9) and England (February 14) in Kolkata, followed by a match against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17. The Scottish team has been preparing steadily for the World Cup stage, with a mix of experienced campaigners and promising youngsters. While they may lack the star power of some full-member nations, Scotland’s recent performances in global qualifiers and bilateral series have shown a team capable of upsetting stronger opponents, and their players will view this sudden opportunity as a chance to prove themselves on cricket’s biggest stage.

The financial implications for the BCB are severe. The board will lose the USD 500,000 participation fee, and the bigger blow will be the loss of ICC revenue sharing, which amounts to nearly USD 27 million (around 330 crore BDT ) annually, approximately 60% of BCB’s budget. In addition, the board stands to lose nearly ₹240 crore (roughly USD 29 million ) in revenue if the boycott continues, including sponsorship and broadcast income tied to World Cup participation. On top of this, the BCB risks losing future bilateral series and the financial benefits of hosting India, which could be equivalent to the revenue from around 10 bilateral tours. The only remaining legal option for Bangladesh is to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, but the tournament will proceed without them.