Ask Onix
Scotland to replace Bangladesh in T20 World Cup
Scotland, currently ranked 14th globally, will step in for Bangladesh at next month's ICC Men's T20 World Cup after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh's request to relocate matches from India.
Bangladesh's withdrawal and ICC decision
Bangladesh had sought to move its Group C fixtures out of India, citing safety concerns amid heightened bilateral tensions. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) proposed Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament, as an alternative venue.
On Saturday, the ICC announced it had rejected the request, stating there was "an absence of any credible security threat." The governing body engaged in multiple discussions with the BCB but set a final 24-hour deadline for confirmation of participation, which passed without a reversal of Bangladesh's stance.
"In light of these findings, and after careful consideration of the broader implications, the ICC determined that it was not appropriate to amend the published event schedule."
ICC statement
The ICC emphasized its commitment to maintaining the "neutrality and fairness" of its events, warning against setting precedents that could compromise future tournaments.
Scotland's rapid preparation
Scotland, led by captain Richie Berrington since June 2022, emerged as the replacement after being identified as the highest-ranked team not already qualified. The squad had been training for a tri-series in Namibia next month but now faces a compressed timeline to secure Indian visas ahead of their tournament opener.
Their first match is scheduled for 7 February against the West Indies in Kolkata. Scotland's Group C also includes England (14 February, Kolkata), Italy, and Nepal.
Historical context and selection process
This marks Scotland's second T20 World Cup appearance as a replacement team. In 2009, they filled Zimbabwe's vacancy in England, then known as the World T20. Unlike that tournament, where replacements were determined by a pre-event qualifier, the ICC's decision this time relied on current rankings due to regional qualification systems introduced in 2024.
Scotland's fourth-place finish in last summer's Europe Qualifier initially left them outside the 20-team field, which expanded in 2024.
Cricket Scotland's response
Chief executive Trudy Lindblade welcomed the opportunity while acknowledging the "challenging and unique circumstances" behind it.
"We are grateful to the ICC for extending this invite. This is an exciting opportunity for Scotland's players to compete on the global stage in front of millions of supporters."
Trudy Lindblade, Cricket Scotland
Lindblade confirmed the squad had been in training for upcoming tours and would now prioritize travel to India to acclimatize before the tournament.
