Scotland on Monday announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 and jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The European side was added to the tournament after the International Cricket Council replaced Bangladesh, following the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s decision not to send its team to India due to security concerns. Scotland will be led by Richie Berrington, who has previously captained the side in major international tournaments.

Scotland have featured in six of the nine editions of the T20 World Cup so far, having participated in the 2007, 2009, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024 editions.

Squad balance and new faces

Along with the main squad, Scotland also named two travelling reserves and three non-travelling reserves for the marquee event.

Cricket Scotland’s head of performance Steve Snell expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and preparation for sub-continent conditions. He said the selected group offers flexibility for different match situations and challenges expected in India.

Snell also highlighted opportunities for younger players, particularly pacer Zainullah Ihsan, who has impressed at youth and ‘A’ team levels with his pace and skill set. He added that Oliver Davidson earned his place through consistent effort and improvement over recent months.

According to Snell, the players are motivated to compete against the world’s best and are eager to make an impact on the global stage.

Group C fixtures and opening match

Scotland have been placed in Group C, alongside England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies. Their campaign will begin on February 7 with an opening fixture against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

Scotland squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Squad:
Richie Berrington (captain), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal

Travelling reserves:
Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis

Non-travelling reserves:
Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear

More than 100 journalists from Bangladesh have reportedly been denied accreditation to cover the T20 World Cup 2026, triggering fresh controversy around the tournament scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February.

According to reports from Bangladeshi media, between 130 and 150 journalists had applied for accreditation through the International Cricket Council’s media process. However, none of the applicants from Bangladesh have reportedly received approval.

The development comes amid ongoing tensions following the ICC’s earlier decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh had also publicly opposed the ICC’s refusal to relocate its scheduled matches to Sri Lanka, a stance that has now drawn further attention in the wake of the reported media restrictions.

Approvals allegedly revoked after initial clearance

The controversy deepened after claims emerged that some Bangladeshi photojournalists initially received accreditation approvals, along with visa support letters, earlier in January. These approvals were later withdrawn, with applicants receiving rejection emails days after the initial confirmation.

One journalist was quoted as saying that an approval email issued by the ICC media department on January 20 was followed by a rejection notice, despite visa documentation having already been issued.

Journalists’ bodies plan response

The issue has also drawn reactions from senior sports journalists in Bangladesh. A veteran journalist, who covered the 1996 Cricket World Cup, said he was surprised by the decision and questioned the reasoning behind rejecting all applications from a single country.

He pointed out that journalists from ICC Associate Member nations are typically allowed to receive accreditation even if their teams are not participating in the tournament.

The Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association is expected to consult with other journalist bodies in the country before deciding on further steps.

As of now, the ICC media department has not issued an official statement clarifying the reported rejection of Bangladeshi journalists’ accreditation applications.

The International Cricket Council has removed Bangladesh from the upcoming T20 World Cup after the team declined to travel to India for the tournament, sources told media on Saturday.

Scotland have been named as Bangladesh’s replacement for the event, which is scheduled to begin on February 7. The decision was taken after Bangladesh failed to formally confirm their participation within the deadline set by the global cricket body.

Earlier in the week, Bangladesh had requested that their matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-hosts under the hybrid model. The request was rejected, following which the ICC gave Bangladesh 24 hours to either confirm travel plans or face replacement.

ICC decision conveyed after deadline lapse

According to sources, senior ICC officials were present in Dubai on Friday when the decision was finalised. An email was later sent to Bangladesh Cricket Board chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul, informing him that the board had been replaced after failing to respond officially within the stipulated time.

An ICC source said the Bangladesh board did not communicate its decision directly to the governing body before addressing the media in Dhaka, which was cited as a breach of protocol.

Bangladesh’s Sports Ministry advisor Asif Nazrul had earlier advised the team against travelling to India, raising security concerns despite assurances from the ICC.

Scotland await formal confirmation

While Cricket Scotland has said it has not yet received official communication, sources indicate that Scotland will participate in the tournament in Bangladesh’s place.

Scotland are scheduled to play their group-stage matches against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 in Kolkata, followed by a fixture against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.