Scotland have officially been named as Bangladesh’s last-minute replacement for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and have announced their squad for the global tournament following an unexpected call-up from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The decision comes after Bangladesh failed to confirm its participation within the ICC’s stipulated deadline, leading to its removal from the competition. The ICC stepped in after prolonged uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s stance on playing its scheduled matches in India. With venue-shift requests rejected and no final assurance forthcoming, the governing body moved swiftly to ensure the tournament lineup remained intact, offering Scotland the vacant spot based on qualification rankings.

Cricket Scotland acted quickly to assemble a 15-member squad despite the limited preparation time. The team, along with reserve players and support staff, will now compete in Group C, where they are set to face established sides including England and the West Indies, as well as emerging teams Italy and Nepal. The sudden inclusion has posed logistical and planning challenges, but Scottish officials have expressed confidence in their players’ readiness. Scotland’s leadership acknowledged the unusual circumstances of their entry, expressing sympathy for Bangladeshi players who miss out on the tournament, while also highlighting the significance of the opportunity for Scottish cricket. For many in the squad, the World Cup represents a rare chance to showcase their talent on the sport’s biggest stage.

This will mark Scotland’s sixth appearance at a T20 World Cup, underlining the team’s steady presence in global cricket despite operating with fewer resources compared to full-member nations. Past performances have shown Scotland capable of competing strongly against higher-ranked teams, and expectations will be high for a spirited showing. Bangladesh’s exit and Scotland’s inclusion have added another layer of controversy to the tournament build-up, reigniting debate around governance, deadlines and how international cricket responds to geopolitical and security-related disputes. As the World Cup approaches, attention will now turn to Scotland’s performance and whether the late entrants can make an impact despite the compressed preparation window. 

This image is taken from Indian express.