The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally announced Scotland’s replacement of Bangladesh in the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, concluding weeks of tense negotiations between cricket’s global governing body and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). This unprecedented roster change follows the Bangladeshi government’s refusal to clear its national team for travel to India despite comprehensive security assurances.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla confirmed that Indian authorities had offered “full security” guarantees to the Bangladeshi delegation. “We wanted Bangladesh to play, and we also assured full security, but since they have made this decision, it is very difficult to change the entire schedule at the last moment. This is why Scotland was brought in,” Shukla stated.
The diplomatic impasse intensified when the BCCI instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 IPL season, citing unspecified “developments all around.” The BCB interpreted this move as indicating potential security concerns for Bangladeshi nationals in India.
Throughout the three-week negotiation period, the ICC conducted multiple transparent dialogues with BCB officials through both virtual conferences and in-person meetings. The global cricket body commissioned independent security assessments from internal and external experts, reviewing detailed operational plans covering federal and state security arrangements alongside enhanced protective protocols for the tournament.
ICC’s comprehensive evaluation concluded that no credible or verifiable security threat existed toward the Bangladeshi team, its officials, or supporters. The governing body emphasized the importance of maintaining tournament integrity, safeguarding all participating teams’ interests, and avoiding precedents that could compromise the neutrality of ICC events.
Following a Wednesday meeting, the ICC Business Corporation Board issued a 24-hour ultimatum for Bangladesh to confirm participation. With no response received within the deadline, the ICC activated its established governance protocols, selecting Scotland—the highest-ranked T20 International team not originally qualified—as the replacement participant.