Not how we wanted to qualify: Scotland react to replacing Bangladesh in T20 WC

Cricket Scotland chief executive Trudy Lindblade said the team sympathises with Bangladesh following their exclusion from the T20 World Cup, admitting that Scotland did not want to qualify for the showpiece event under such circumstances.

“We certainly have for the Bangladesh team,” Lindblade said when asked if she had sympathy for the side they had replaced. “Obviously, this is not how we wanted to go to a World Cup. There is a qualification process and nobody wants to qualify or attend or be invited to a World Cup in the way that we have done. We acknowledge it is certainly unique circumstances by our participation, and we do feel for the Bangladesh players,” Lindblade said to ESPNCricinfo.

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Lindblade, however, stressed that Scotland are ready to embrace the opportunity despite the unusual nature of their entry into the tournament. “We are a team that is ranked 14th in the world. We are also a strong team that plays consistently throughout the year. That World Cup [qualifier] for us was not how we normally play, and therefore we are just pleased to be at this World Cup… We are happy to step in, although it is unique and challenging circumstances and we absolutely recognise that,” she added.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday formally informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that Bangladesh would be replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7.

The decision followed a reiteration by the Bangladesh government that its players would not travel to India, requesting that their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. The ICC subsequently asked Scotland to prepare their squad to step in as replacements.

BCB president Aminul Islam and the country’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul had repeatedly cited “security concerns” as the basis for their demand, a claim that was categorically rejected by the ICC.

The Bangladesh board was issued a 24-hour ultimatum, with formal communication sent on Friday evening confirming their exclusion from the tournament.

The decision was taken by the ICC Board, where only Pakistan supported Bangladesh’s position. The Board noted that making changes so close to the tournament was not feasible and that altering the schedule under the circumstances without any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events and undermine the organisation’s neutrality.