Bangladesh have boycotted the upcoming men's T20 World Cup, citing safety concerns over hosting games in India. The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected their request to move matches to co-host Sri Lanka. After a 24-hour deadline passed, the ICC has decided to replace them with Scotland.

Scotland, currently 14th in the T20 rankings, will enter Group C as the highest-ranked team not already qualified. This is a lifeline for a side that missed regional qualification. It mirrors a 2009 precedent when Zimbabwe's withdrawal saw Scotland step in, though the current selection is based on ICC discretion rather than a qualifying tournament.

The Scottish squad now faces a frantic turnaround. Their first match is against the West Indies in Kolkata on the tournament's opening day, February 7th. They must quickly secure Indian visas. Their group also includes England, Italy, and Nepal, making for a challenging schedule after a long wait for this opportunity.