Scotland set to replace Bangladesh if T20 World Cup standoff remains unresolved: Reports
Citing security concerns, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had asked the ICC to shift the matches to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s other host nation. The BCB held talks with ICC officials in Dhaka this week over the deadlock, but no solution was reached.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed Bangladesh that they must play their T20 World Cup matches in India next month or risk being excluded from the tournament, several media outlets reported on Monday.
Citing security concerns, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had asked the ICC to shift the matches to Sri Lanka, the tournament's other host nation. The BCB held talks with ICC officials in Dhaka this week over the deadlock, but no solution was reached.
In a statement, the BCB said: "During the discussions, the BCB formally reiterated its request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka."
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While the ICC has not issued an official comment, cricket website Cricinfo and several Indian media outlets reported on Monday that the BCB has been given until Wednesday to communicate its final decision.
An ICC source told AFP that if Bangladesh withdraws from the World Cup, their place will be taken by Scotland, the highest-ranked team among those who failed to qualify.
The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup will begin on 7 February. Bangladesh have been placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy. Their matches are scheduled to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai.
During discussions with the ICC, Bangladesh also proposed swapping groups with Ireland, who are placed in Group B.
On 3 January, following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kolkata Knight Riders dropped Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League, sparking widespread anger in Bangladesh.
Political relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated since a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 led to the ouster of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi.
Last month, India's Ministry of External Affairs condemned what it described as "relentless hostility" against minorities in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's interim government chief and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has accused India of exaggerating the scale of the violence.
