DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed a last-minute change to the tournament’s lineup, replacing Bangladesh with Scotland in Group C. The decision follows Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to participate in the tournament under the previously announced match schedule.
As per the ICC officials, multiple rounds of dialogue were held with the BCB, including virtual and in-person meetings, to address Bangladesh’s concerns related to playing matches in India. The independent security evaluations—conducted by both internal ICC teams and external experts concluded that there was no credible threat to the safety of players, officials, or supporters.
These findings, along with detailed security and operational plans, were formally shared with the BCB on several occasions. The ICC stated that Bangladesh failed to respond within a final 24-hour deadline set to confirm participation.
The tournament schedule approaching, the governing body moved forward using its established governance framework to identify a replacement team.
Scotland, ranked 14th in the ICC T20I standings, emerged as the selected replacement. The European side will now join England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies in Group C.
The ICC cited Scotland’s recent performances in global events as a key factor in the decision.
Notably, Scotland had narrowly missed qualification for the upcoming World Cup and has previously recorded significant wins on the international stage, including a memorable victory over Bangladesh in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
The ICC stressed that maintaining the tournament’s integrity and timetable was a priority. However, the announcement has not gone unnoticed across the cricketing world. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly questioned the move, describing the situation as “unfair” and hinting at broader implications.
