New Delhi: Bangladesh will not participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be hosted by India, with Scotland named as their replacement, according to developments confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
As per reports, the ICC informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) through an email on Friday evening that all avenues for Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament had been closed. The decision came after the BCB conveyed to the ICC that the Bangladesh government had not granted permission for the national team to travel to India.
The reports further said that the BCB had taken the matter to the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). However, no official statement has been issued so far by either the BCB or the ICC regarding the DRC proceedings or the outcome of those discussions.
The ICC’s decision follows nearly three weeks of talks between the global cricket body and the BCB. During this period, Bangladesh had refused to confirm its participation in the marquee tournament, citing security concerns for its players while travelling to and playing in India.Scotland has been included in the tournament based on the latest ICC rankings
. The European side has previously featured in six of the nine editions of the Men’s T20 World Cup, having played in the tournaments held in 2007, 2009, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024.Earlier, the BCB had formally requested the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s matches outside India, proposing Sri Lanka as an alternative venue. The board cited “security and safety concerns” for its players as the primary reason behind the request.
The issue gained further traction after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad ahead of the 2026 season, amid reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh.
Following these developments, the ICC rejected the BCB’s request to relocate its matches outside India during a video conference convened to discuss the situation. Subsequently, BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul confirmed that the board would not reconsider its position and would not send the Bangladesh team to play its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches in India.With the ICC’s latest decision, Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 tournament now stands officially ruled out.
