DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In an unprecedented last-minute decision, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming T20 World Cup following a contentious security dispute. The dramatic roster change comes after weeks of failed negotiations between cricket’s governing body and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The conflict originated from BCB’s formal request to relocate its matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing unspecified security apprehensions. Despite multiple high-level discussions conducted both virtually and in-person over three weeks, the ICC remained unconvinced by Bangladesh’s security claims.
In an official statement released Saturday, the ICC revealed it had conducted thorough security assessments and found “no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team in India” for the month-long tournament commencing February 7. The governing body emphasized that modifying the published event schedule so close to the tournament’s opening was not justified.
The situation reached its climax when BCB failed to confirm its participation by the ICC’s stipulated deadline. This procedural failure triggered the ICC’s established governance protocols, resulting in Scotland’s selection as the replacement team based on their ranking as the highest-tier T20 team not initially qualified.
Complicating matters further, the Bangladesh government cited strained political relations with India as the underlying reason for their security concerns. The tension reportedly stems from the recent removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League by order of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The dispute has garnered international attention, with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly criticizing the ICC for alleged “double standards” and expressing solidarity with Bangladesh. Naqvi revealed that Pakistan’s own participation remains contingent on government approval, indicating potential further disruptions to the tournament lineup.
Scotland now prepares to enter Group C, where they will assume Bangladesh’s original schedule of three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, adding an unexpected dynamic to the tournament’s competitive landscape.