Scotland have been drafted into next month’s men’s T20 World Cup after Bangladesh confirmed they will not take part in the tournament.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Saturday that Scotland, ranked 14th in the world, will replace Bangladesh in Group C. The decision came after Bangladesh refused to play their matches in India, citing safety concerns, and requested to have their fixtures moved to Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the event.

The ICC rejected the request earlier this week, stating there was “no credible security threat” and stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the tournament schedule. After giving the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) a final 24-hour deadline to confirm participation, the ICC moved forward with inviting Scotland.

“In light of these findings, and after careful consideration of the broader implications, the ICC determined that it was not appropriate to amend the published event schedule,” the governing body said in its statement.

Scotland’s players, who had been preparing for a one-day international tri-series against Namibia and Oman in March, now face a rapid turnaround to secure visas and travel arrangements. Their opening match is set for February 7 against West Indies in Kolkata, followed by fixtures against England, Italy, and Nepal.

This unexpected call-up comes after Scotland missed qualification last summer, finishing fourth in the Europe Qualifier. The ICC’s decision was discretionary, based on rankings, rather than the regional qualification system introduced in 2024.

It is not the first time Scotland have stepped in under unusual circumstances. In 2009, Zimbabwe withdrew from the World T20 in England for political reasons, and Scotland were drafted in as the next best team from the global qualifiers.