T20 World Cup: Scotland handed last-minute spot after Bangladesh removed by ICC over refusal to play matches in India

Scotland will be handed a last-minute place in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, replacing Bangladesh in next month’s tournament in India and Sri Lanka, Sky Sports News understands.

Bangladesh asked the ICC on multiple occasions for their group matches to be moved to Sri Lanka due to security concerns, following ongoing strained political tensions between them and India.

The requests were rejected by the ICC, who said there was no security threat and that it 'would not be feasible', despite the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) indicating the Bangladesh government had not given them permission to travel to India.

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The ICC warned after an emergency meeting on Wednesday that they would be removed if they did not agree to play in India.

Sky Sports News understands that Scotland will now be confirmed as Bangladesh's replacements in the tournament, which starts on February 7, live on Sky Sports.

Scotland would be allocated the late entry as the highest-ranked T20I nation not to have originally qualified, filling Bangladesh's spot in Group C alongside England, debutants Italy, Nepal and West Indies.

Sky Sports News has asked ICC for comment.

If the current fixture list remains unaltered, Scotland will play West Indies in Kolkata on the opening day (9.30am UK) and then Italy at the same venue on Monday February 9 (5.30am).

A Valentine's Day clash with England would follow on Saturday February 14 in Kolkata (9.30am), before concluding their group campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on Tuesday February 17 (1.30pm).

Scotland finished fourth at last summer's Europe Qualifier, with Netherlands and Italy securing the two spots for the T20 World Cup proper.

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