• Bangladesh will not participate in the men's T20 World Cup 2026 due to security concerns in India.
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed Scotland will replace Bangladesh in Group C.
• Bangladesh's request to move matches to Sri Lanka was rejected by the ICC.
• The tournament is set to begin on February 7, 2026.
• Scotland, the highest-ranked team not originally qualifying, is now preparing for the World Cup.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made the decision to withdraw from the upcoming men's T20 World Cup, following the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rejection of their request to relocate matches from India to Sri Lanka. The ICC announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in Group C, as they are the highest-ranked T20 International team not already qualified for the tournament, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

The decision stems from growing security concerns amid escalating political tensions between Bangladesh and India. Following consultations, the ICC concluded there was "no credible or verifiable security threat" to the Bangladeshi team, a finding that led to their final decision on the matter. Bangladesh's insistence on playing their matches in Sri Lanka was ultimately dismissed, and the BCB's position reaffirmed their unwillingness to participate in India, as reported by Reuters.

The BCB's refusal is tied to prior incidents affecting players, notably the exclusion of bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League, which they attributed to political strife. The ICC acknowledged the exhaustive process involved in addressing the BCB's security concerns, including consultations and security assessments before making their final judgment, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

As a result of Bangladesh's withdrawal, Scotland is now set to participate for their fifth consecutive T20 World Cup, which presents a significant opportunity for their players to compete globally. Cricket Scotland expressed excitement about the chance to represent their nation, emphasizing that the circumstances surrounding their entry are complex, as noted by Reuters.