Scotland Replaces Bangladesh at T20 World Cup 2026

In a significant development for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Scotland has been officially confirmed as a replacement for Bangladesh, who failed to respond to the ICC's request for confirmation regarding their participation in the upcoming tournament. The World Cup is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the preliminary round starting on February 7.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the announcement on January 24, 2026, following Bangladesh's continued reluctance to confirm their involvement despite having been given ample time to reconsider their position regarding travel to India. With no response received by the deadline, the governing body took the decision to bring in an associate nation to fill the void.

Scotland will now join Group C in the preliminary stage of the tournament, replacing Bangladesh. The European team will kick off their campaign in Kolkata with a match against the West Indies on February 7, followed by fixtures against Italy on February 9 and England on February 14. Scotland will then travel to Mumbai to face Nepal on February 17.

This decision had been widely expected in cricketing circles, as Bangladesh's stance on participation had remained firm in recent weeks, leading to speculation about their absence from the event. With the official confirmation, Scotland's return to the global T20 stage has been solidified, marking a major step for associate nations in the international cricketing landscape.