The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not approached Scotland about replacing Bangladesh at next month’s men’s T20 World Cup, though Scottish players say they would be ready if needed. As the highest-ranked team not in the tournament, Scotland could be considered if Bangladesh withdraws, but Cricket Scotland has not been contacted and is not initiating talks, out of respect for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Scotland missed out on the 2026 T20 World Cup after finishing fourth in last summer’s Europe Qualifier, with the Netherlands and Italy claiming the two available spots. Previously, Scotland replaced Zimbabwe at the 2009 T20 World Cup after Zimbabwe pulled out for political reasons. With current T20 World Cup qualifications conducted regionally, any replacement decision is likely to be at the ICC’s discretion.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 20, 2026 14:12 UTC