Scotland Replaces Bangladesh in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 | 28 Jan 2026

Why in News?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Key Points: 

• Dispute:The crisis originated from the BCB's refusal to send its national team to India, citing security and safety concerns. 
• Security Assessment: The ICC conducted independent security assessments from both internal and external experts, which concluded there was "no credible or verifiable security threat" to the Bangladesh contingent in India.  
• Replacement: After several rounds of dialogue and a 24-hour deadline for Bangladesh to confirm participation, no affirmative response was received, prompting the ICC to replace them.  
• Scotland’s Inclusion:Scotland, ranked 14th in T20 International rankings, was the highest-ranked team that originally missed qualification.  
  • The ICC has slotted Scotland into Group C, where they will compete alongside England, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal. 
• Significance:The decision ensures the 20-team structure of the tournament remains intact without logistical disruptions. 
  • It underscores the ICC’s emphasis on ensuring tournament integrity and adherence to published schedules.