ICC “Cracks The Whip”: Bangladesh Ejected From T20 World Cup 2026; Scotland Named Replacement

DUBAI / DHAKA—The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday, January 24, 2026, took the historic and drastic step of ejecting Bangladesh from the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The decision comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ignored a final 24-hour ultimatum to confirm their participation in matches scheduled in India.

Scotland, currently ranked 14th in the world, has been officially drafted as the replacement and will take Bangladesh’s spot in Group C alongside England, the West Indies, Nepal, and Italy.

1. The Standoff: Security vs. Diplomacy

The crisis stems from the BCB’s refusal to allow its team to play on Indian soil, citing “heightened security concerns” following strained political relations.

• The Request: The BCB repeatedly petitioned to move their India-based fixtures to Sri Lanka (the tournament’s co-host).
• The ICC Rejection: After commissioning independent security assessments, the ICC found “no credible or verifiable threat” to the Bangladesh team in India, rating the risk as “low to moderate.”
• The Final Blow: ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta and Chairman Jay Shah confirmed that since the BCB failed to budge by the January 21-22 deadline, the board had no choice but to preserve the “integrity and neutrality” of the tournament schedule.

2. Scotland’s Last-Minute Call-Up

Scotland, the highest-ranked T20I nation that had not originally qualified, will now take over a high-profile schedule in two of India’s most iconic stadiums.

• The Schedule: Scotland will open the tournament on February 7 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
• Key Fixtures: * Feb 7: vs West Indies (Kolkata)
  • Feb 9: vs Italy (Kolkata)
  • Feb 14: vs England (Kolkata)
  • Feb 17: vs Nepal (Mumbai)

3. The “Mustafizur Factor” and Political Tensions

Insiders suggest the rift deepened after IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad at the BCCI’s behest, citing the ongoing political volatility in Bangladesh.

• BCB Defiance: BCB President Aminul Islam and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul maintained that while they wanted to play the World Cup, “travelling to India was not an option.”
• Financial Fallout: By being ejected, the BCB stands to lose an estimated $500,000 (₹4.2 crore) in participation fees and may face further sanctions or a suspension of ICC funding.

T20 World Cup 2026: Group C Updated