Scotland Steps In: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Updated After Bangladesh Withdrawal
In a significant development for international cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. This decision follows weeks of uncertainty after the Bangladesh government reiterated its stance that its players would not travel to India for the tournament, requesting matches be shifted to Sri Lanka instead.
Political Impasse Leads to Team Replacement
The ICC's formal announcement on Saturday, January 24, 2026, confirmed Scotland's participation in the multinational showpiece event. The world cricket body has directed Scotland to prepare their team to fill the vacancy created by Bangladesh's withdrawal. This marks a notable shift in the tournament dynamics, with Scotland now set to compete in Group C alongside established cricketing nations.
Updated Group Composition and Venue Details
Scotland finds itself placed in Group C with England, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy. The Scottish team will play three of their group stage matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, adding to the diverse venue lineup across India and Sri Lanka.
The complete group structure for the tournament is as follows:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
- Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
- Group C: England, West Indies, Scotland (replacing Bangladesh), Nepal, Italy
- Group D: New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
Tournament Format and Progression
The T20 World Cup 2026 will follow a comprehensive format:
- Group Stage: Four groups of five teams each will compete in round-robin matches
- Super Eight Stage: The top two finishers from each group advance to this competitive phase
- Knockout Rounds: The top two teams from the Super Eight stage progress to the semifinals
- Final Showdown: The tournament culminates with the championship match
Complete Updated Schedule and Fixtures
The tournament will feature 55 matches across premier venues in Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Colombo, and Kandy. Here is the detailed schedule:
February 7, Saturday:
- 11:00 AM: Pakistan vs Netherlands (Colombo)
- 3:00 PM: West Indies vs Scotland (Kolkata)
- 7:00 PM: India vs USA (Mumbai)
February 8, Sunday:
- 11:00 AM: New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Chennai)
- 3:00 PM: England vs Nepal (Mumbai)
- 7:00 PM: Sri Lanka vs Ireland (Colombo)
February 9, Monday:
- 11:00 AM: Scotland vs Italy (Kolkata)
- 3:00 PM: Zimbabwe vs Oman (Colombo)
- 7:00 PM: South Africa vs Canada (Ahmedabad)
February 10, Tuesday:
- 11:00 AM: Netherlands vs Namibia (Delhi)
- 3:00 PM: New Zealand vs UAE (Chennai)
- 7:00 PM: Pakistan vs USA (Colombo)
February 11, Wednesday:
- 11:00 AM: South Africa vs Afghanistan (Ahmedabad)
- 3:00 PM: Australia vs Ireland (Colombo)
- 7:00 PM: England vs West Indies (Mumbai)
February 12, Thursday:
- 11:00 AM: Sri Lanka vs Oman (Kandy)
- 3:00 PM: Nepal vs Italy (Mumbai)
- 7:00 PM: India vs Namibia (Delhi)
February 13, Friday:
- 11:00 AM: Australia vs Zimbabwe (Colombo)
- 3:00 PM: Canada vs UAE (Delhi)
- 7:00 PM: USA vs Netherlands (Chennai)
February 14, Saturday:
- 11:00 AM: Ireland vs Oman (Colombo)
- 3:00 PM: England vs Scotland (Kolkata)
- 7:00 PM: New Zealand vs South Africa (Ahmedabad)
February 15, Sunday:
- 11:00 AM: West Indies vs Nepal (Mumbai)
- 3:00 PM: USA vs Namibia (Chennai)
- 7:00 PM: India vs Pakistan (Colombo)
February 16, Monday:
- 11:00 AM: Afghanistan vs UAE (Delhi)
- 3:00 PM: England vs Italy (Kolkata)
- 7:00 PM: Australia vs Sri Lanka (Kandy)
February 17, Tuesday:
- 11:00 AM: New Zealand vs Canada (Chennai)
- 3:00 PM: Ireland vs Zimbabwe (Kandy)
- 7:00 PM: Scotland vs Nepal (Mumbai)
February 18, Wednesday:
- 11:00 AM: South Africa vs UAE (Delhi)
- 3:00 PM: Pakistan vs Namibia (Colombo)
- 7:00 PM: India vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad)
February 19, Thursday:
- 11:00 AM: West Indies vs Italy (Kolkata)
- 3:00 PM: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (Colombo)
- 7:00 PM: Afghanistan vs Canada (Chennai)
February 20, Friday:
- 7:00 PM: Australia vs Oman (Kandy)
Super Eight Stage (February 21-March 1):
- February 21: Y2 vs Y3 (Colombo)
- February 22: Y1 vs Y4 (Kandy), X1 vs X4 (Ahmedabad)
- February 23: X2 vs X3 (Mumbai)
- February 24: Y1 vs Y3 (Kandy)
- February 25: Y2 vs Y4 (Colombo)
- February 26: X3 vs X4 (Ahmedabad), X1 vs X2 (Chennai)
- February 27: Y1 vs Y2 (Colombo)
- February 28: Y3 vs Y4 (Kandy)
- March 1: X2 vs X4 (Delhi), X1 vs X3 (Kolkata)
Knockout Stage:
- March 4: Semifinal 1 (Kolkata/Colombo)
- March 5: Semifinal 2 (Mumbai)
- March 8: Final (Ahmedabad/Colombo)
Venue Distribution and Tournament Significance
The T20 World Cup 2026 represents a major cricketing event with matches spread across seven cities in two nations. This distribution ensures widespread fan engagement and showcases the global appeal of T20 cricket. The inclusion of Scotland adds an interesting dynamic to Group C, potentially creating unexpected matchups and competitive scenarios.
Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting tournament featuring traditional rivalries, emerging cricket nations, and the unpredictable nature of T20 format cricket. The updated schedule reflects the ICC's adaptability in maintaining tournament integrity while navigating geopolitical considerations.
