Overview:
The ICC gave the BCB a deadline of Thursday to change its mind. But the BCB confirmed its stance after meeting on Thursday with the government and some national team players.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup on Saturday for refusing to play in the tournament co-host India.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board wanted its games shifted to co-host Sri Lanka due to security concerns, but the International Cricket Council rejected the request and said there were no security threats in India against Bangladesh.
In a statement, the ICC said there was no “credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team in India.”
“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 tournament starts in two weeks.
Bangladesh will miss the men’s T20 World Cup for the first time.
Scotland was already the designated replacement as the highest-ranked team at No. 14 to have missed qualifying for the 20-team event.
Scotland will play in Group C against England, the West Indies, Nepal and Italy.
Bangladesh tried for three weeks to persuade the ICC, upset after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the Indian Premier League by order of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The BCCI has not elaborated.
The ICC gave the BCB a deadline of Thursday to change its mind. But the BCB confirmed its stance after meeting on Thursday with the government and some national team players.
The BCB said it was the government’s decision not to go to India.
Cricket Scotland said it accepted the ICC invite on Saturday.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Scotland’s players,” chief executive Trudy Lindblade said in a statement. “We also acknowledge this opportunity has arisen out of challenging and unique circumstances.”