Bangladesh could be replaced by Scotland in WC if it does not travel to India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed Bangladesh that matches of the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled for next month, must be played in India. Otherwise, Bangladesh could risk exclusion from the tournament, several media outlets reported on Monday.

Citing security concerns, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to play at Indian venues and requested that its matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host. To resolve the ongoing deadlock, BCB officials held a meeting with ICC representatives in Dhaka this week, but no solution emerged.

In a statement, the BCB said it had formally reiterated its request to move Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka during the discussions.

Although the ICC has not made any official comment, Indian media outlets, including cricket website Cricinfo, 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, Scotland — the highest-ranked team among those that failed to qualify — will be included in the tournament.

The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup will begin on February 7. Bangladesh has been placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy. Bangladesh’s group matches are scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai.

During talks with the ICC, the BCB also proposed a group swap with Ireland, which is in Group B.

Meanwhile, on January 3, Kolkata Knight Riders dropped Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL following directives from the Indian cricket board, triggering widespread reaction and anger in Bangladesh.

Political tensions between India and Bangladesh have become increasingly visible since the ouster of then prime minister and New Delhi ally Sheikh Hasina through a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024.

Last month, India’s Ministry of External Affairs alleged “persistent hostility” against minorities in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh’s interim government chief and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus rejected the claim, saying India was exaggerating the scale of violence.