New Delhi, Jan 24 (.) The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to announce a replacement for Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 any time soon, as uncertainty continues over Dhaka’s participation in the tournament.
Scotland have emerged as the likely replacement, as per media reports, following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India citing security concerns — a stance that has remained unchanged despite multiple rounds of discussions and alternative arrangements being explored.
The standoff traces back nearly three weeks to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asking IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad, a move that triggered a wider impasse between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Indian cricket authorities.
With less than two weeks remaining before the start of the tournament, the ICC has reportedly indicated that logistical constraints make any significant reshuffle impractical. Bangladesh have also rejected proposals to relocate their fixtures to neutral venues.
In the absence of any breakthrough talks or compromise from the BCB, Scotland remain in line to take Bangladesh’s place, though Cricket Scotland has declined to officially confirm the development.
An official statement from the ICC is awaited which is expected to provide clarity on Bangladesh’s status and formally name the replacement team for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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