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New Delhi: Weeks of suspense finally ended on Saturday after theInternational Cricket Council (ICC) booted out Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC has officially informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that it has been replaced by Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup after they refused to travel to India, citing security concerns following the ouster of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL.

Scotland, which emerged as the top-ranked team in the qualifiers, have replaced Bangladesh in Group C for the marquee event. Scotland have now been placed in Group C in the preliminary stage of the competition and are set to play their league games against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9) and England (February 14) in Kolkata, before travelling west to take on Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.

Earlier in the day, the ICC had established contact with Scotland with respect to participation in the showpiece event, as per multiple media reports. After the ICC gave the BCB a 24-hour deadline and they stood firm on their decision, the replacement seemed to be inevitable.

According to a report in PTI, it is being learnt that senior ICC officials including chairman were in Dubai on Friday and an email was sent late in the evening to BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul, conveying the global body’s decision.

‘An e-mail was sent last evening to Bangladesh Cricket Board chairman intimating him that his board didn’t get back to ICC officially after the 24 hour deadline that was given to them to decide if they wanted to come to India, so a decision has been taken,’ an ICC source confirmed to PTI.

‘The BCB did a press conference in Dhaka before officially intimating the global body which is a violation of protocol. They have been categorically told that they are being replaced,’ the source added.

Bangladesh’s Sports Ministry advisor Asif Nazrul advised against travelling to India, citing security issues despite being given repeated assurances by the ICC.