The global cricket fraternity is at its highest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 finds himself embroiled in a major controversy just weeks before the tournament begins. After an important board meeting on January 21 International Cricket Council (ICC) issued what was described as a final ultimatum Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB): Play the scheduled matches in India or face complete elimination from the tournament.
With the event being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, any last-minute withdrawal would have significant sporting, logistical and commercial implications. Bangladesh’s potential absence could reshape Group C and change the dynamics of qualification heading into the playoffs.
How the controversy began
The standoff reportedly began after the BCB formally expressed concern over the safety and security of its players visiting India, citing rising political tensions between the two countries. Matters became more tense Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) He is said to be managing the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Dropping the Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahmanit was seen by many as a move that added fuel to an already sensitive situation.
In response, the BCB requested that Bangladesh’s group stage matches scheduled to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai be shifted to Sri Lanka. However, in a vote by the ICC council, the proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by a 14-2 margin, with the council arguing that existing security measures were adequate and that changing venues so late would set an undesirable precedent.
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If Bangladesh boycott T20 World Cup 2026, who will replace him?
If Bangladesh formally withdraws or is pulled out, the ICC itself is expected to activate its established late-stage replacement protocol. In this context, Scotland cricket team emerge as frontrunners to take Bangladesh’s place in Group C, which already has England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy.
Scotland are currently ranked 12th in the ICC men’s T20I rankings, the highest-ranked team not to qualify directly through the regional qualifying process. They are slightly ahead of other contenders like Netherlands cricket team and United Arab Emirates cricket team. Historically, the ICC has preferred to select the highest ranked non-qualified side to maintain the competitive balance of the tournament.
A similar situation happened in 2009 Zimbabwe was ruled out of the T20 World Cup in England due to political difficulties. With little time to spare, the ICC turned to Scotland as a replacement, selecting them as the highest-performing side who narrowly missed out on direct qualification from the global qualifiers. This precedent highlights how the ICC has previously relied on the “next best” team to maintain the balance and credibility of the competition.
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