In a seismic shift for the cricketing world, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The decision, which follows a tense standoff between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the game’s global governing body, has received high-profile support from 1983 World Cup winner and former Indian skipper.

The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8, 2026. While the rest of the world prepares for the 20-team spectacle, Bangladesh’s withdrawal has sparked a heated debate regarding sports, diplomacy, and the influence of neighbouring nations.

Former World Cup hero throws support behind ICC’s Scotland over Bangladesh call

Speaking to ANI, Madan Lal did not hold back in his assessment of the situation. He labelled the ICC’s decision to elevate Scotland as a “very good” move, while simultaneously slamming the BCB for what he considers a strategic blunder.

Lal suggested that the decision to pull out was not entirely an internal one, pointing toward external pressure. “Pakistan also misguided them (Bangladesh). Now this is a very big opportunity for Scotland as they will get a lot of exposure. Bangladesh has made a very big mistake,” Lal remarked.

His comments refer to the BCB’s refusal to travel to India, citing security concerns despite independent assessments by internal and external experts finding no credible or verifiable threat. Lal further emphasized that India, particularly Mumbai—one of the scheduled venues—remains one of the safest environments for international cricket, suggesting that the withdrawal will result in a massive commercial and developmental loss for Bangladesh.

Also READ: Bangladesh officially pull out of T20 World Cup 2026; ICC announces replacement

Why Scotland is the new group C contender?

The transition from Bangladesh to Scotland was the result of a rigorous three-week dialogue process. After the BCB demanded that its Group C matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka, the ICC conducted a thorough review. When the request was denied based on the lack of a genuine security threat, the ICC issued a 24-hour ultimatum for Bangladesh to confirm their participation.

Following the BCB’s silence, the ICC turned to its established qualification protocols. Scotland, currently ranked 14th in the world, was selected as the replacement because they were the highest-ranked T20I side that had not originally qualified for the 2026 edition.

Scotland will now take over Bangladesh’s fixtures in Group C, joining a competitive pool that includes:

• England
• West Indies
• Nepal
• Italy

The “Saltires” will begin their campaign on the opening day, February 7, against the West Indies in Kolkata. For Scotland, this represents a golden chance to build on their impressive 2024 performance, where they narrowly missed the Super 8s. For Bangladesh, however, the fallout is severe; reports suggest the board faces a potential $27 million loss in ICC revenue and bilateral series cancellations, marking a dark chapter for the “Tigers” on the global stage.

Also READ: ‘Bangladesh doesn’t want to play in India’: BCB chief slams ICC for ‘double standards’ over T20 World Cup venue controversy

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