Following the withdrawal of Bangladesh from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Scotland’s national cricket team has confirmed that it is ready to play and preparing for immediate travel to India to participate in the tournament. The unexpected opportunity arose when the Bangladesh Cricket Board did not send its team to India, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to replace them with the next-highest ranked team not originally qualified — Scotland.
Cricket Scotland’s leadership expressed gratitude to the ICC for the invitation and said the squad has already been training in anticipation of competitive fixtures. Officials said the team is adjusting plans rapidly to travel to India soon, acclimatise to local conditions and prepare for its group matches, which are part of the tournament set to begin on 7 February 2026.
Scotland now joins Group C alongside teams such as West Indies, England, Italy and Nepal, with matches scheduled in major Indian venues including Kolkata and Mumbai. The team plans to finalise its squad selection in the coming days and has indicated readiness to compete at the highest level despite the late call-up.
Analysts said the sudden inclusion gives Scotland a rare chance to play on the world stage and could boost the team’s visibility and international experience. With limited time to prepare, officials emphasised team cohesion and adaptability ahead of the first matches.
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