Scotland have reacted for the first time after being confirmed as Bangladesh’s replacement at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Associate nation was drafted into the tournament after Bangladesh withdrew, citing security concerns over travelling to India, despite the ICC maintaining that there was no credible threat based on its assessment.
The ICC officially confirmed Scotland’s inclusion on Saturday after the Bangladesh Cricket Board failed to reverse its stance even after a 24-hour deadline. Bangladesh’s withdrawal followed weeks of discussions, an ICC Board vote rejecting a venue change, and an unsuccessful approach to the Dispute Resolution Committee. Scotland were kept on standby throughout the process and were slotted into Group C once the decision was finalised. They now join England, the West Indies, Italy and Nepal in Group C.
T20 WC: Scotland confirm participation, begin preparations
Cricket Scotland responded within minutes of the announcement, posting images of players training indoors with the caption “Always ready”. Shortly after, chief executive Trudy Lindblade confirmed that the board had received formal communication from the ICC earlier in the day and had accepted the invitation. Board chairman Wilf Walsh revealed that the confirmation came directly from ICC chairman Jay Shah.
“Earlier today I received correspondence from the ICC asking if our men’s team would play at the Men’s T20 World Cup, and we have accepted,” Trudy Lindblade wrote on Scotland’s website.
“We are grateful to the ICC for extending this invite,” Lindblade said in a statement released on the board’s website. “This is an exciting opportunity for Scotland’s players to compete on the global stage. We also acknowledge that this opportunity has arisen out of challenging and unique circumstances.“
Lindblade added that the squad had already been training in preparation for upcoming tours. Now they would travel to India immediately to acclimatise to local conditions. Cricket Scotland also confirmed that further updates on squad selection will be communicated shortly.
Financial implications: loss for Bangladesh, boost for Scotland
Bangladesh’s exit from the T20 World Cup also means a heavy financial cost. By missing the tournament, they are set to lose between $300,000 and $500,000 in participation fees for the group stage alone. Under the ICC’s Member Participation Agreement, the BCB also faces the possibility of a fine of up to $2 million for refusing to travel without what the ICC considers valid justification.
The bigger setback is the loss of tournament-related revenue. Bangladesh are expected to forfeit up to $27 million in broadcast share, sponsorship and ICC distributions, which is close to 60 percent of the board’s annual income. All this adds up to around INR 45 crore, a huge amount that could hurt Bangladesh cricket and its players.
For Scotland, the financial impact works in the opposite direction. Cricket Scotland’s annual revenue is estimated to be under INR 10 crore. Participation in the T20 World Cup is expected to bring in ICC payments and commercial income that would far exceed their usual yearly earnings. Truly a blessing in disguise.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group C
| S. No | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | England |
| 2 | Italy |
| 3 | Nepal |
| 4 | Scotland |
| 5 | West Indies |
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