ICC sets deadline for Bangladesh: Scotland likely to replace BCB amid World Cup standoff
ICC sets deadline for Bangladesh: Scotland likely to replace BCB amid World Cup standoff
By Nawaz Gohar ; A leading cricket website has claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) may replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup based on rankings, should the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finalize its refusal to travel to India.
According to reports, a final decision on Bangladesh’s participation is expected on January 21. During recent negotiations in Dhaka, the ICC reportedly issued a firm deadline to the BCB. Despite the pressure, the BCB remains steadfast in its position, showing no flexibility regarding the decision to boycott the Indian venues.
The ICC has also reportedly rejected a specific request from Bangladesh to swap groups with Ireland, who are placed in Group B. Furthermore, the governing body assured the BCB that there are no direct security threats to any team in India, citing a security memorandum already issued to all 20 participating nations.
If Bangladesh provides a final negative response by the deadline, Scotland—the next highest-ranked team, is expected to be drafted into the tournament as a replacement.
The standoff traces back to security concerns following the controversial exclusion of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL. That incident, allegedly triggered by threats from Indian extremists, led the Bangladesh government and the BCB to reconsider the safety of their national squad on Indian soil.
