Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has backed the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) call to replace Bangladesh with Scotland at the T20 World Cup 2026, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to take part in the tournament as per the officially released schedule.Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, “When Bangladesh was told that there were no security problems here, and everyone knows that there are no security problems in India, which was the reason they gave, and then the ICC also gave them a warning. The ICC gave them time. But when they didn’t agree, then the ICC had to take this decision, and I think it’s absolutely the right decision. If you are not listening to your parent body, then I would say this is absolutely the right decision by the ICC.”
The BCB had approached the ICC seeking to have their fixtures shifted from India to Sri Lanka, citing “security and safety concerns” for their players. This request followed a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asking IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur ahead of the 2026 season, against the backdrop of violence against minorities in Bangladesh.After finding no credible or verifiable threat to the Bangladesh team in India, the ICC turned down the BCB’s proposal to relocate their matches. The 20-team tournament is scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8.According to an ICC release, the governing body undertook a detailed consultation process lasting over three weeks, engaging the BCB through several rounds of discussions held both virtually and in person. During this period, the ICC evaluated the concerns raised, sought independent security assessments from internal and external experts, and shared comprehensive operational and security plans, including arrangements at both federal and state levels along with enhanced protocols for the event.These assurances were reiterated multiple times, including during meetings involving the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board. The assessments ultimately concluded that there was no substantiated security risk to Bangladesh players, officials or supporters. The ICC also stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the tournament schedule and avoiding precedents that could compromise the neutrality of future events.Following a meeting on Wednesday, the IBC Board asked the BCB to confirm participation within 24 hours. With no response received, the ICC moved ahead with its governance process to identify a replacement.Scotland, currently ranked 14th in T20Is, were next in line. They are placed above seven teams already in the tournament — Namibia, the UAE, Nepal, the USA, Canada, Oman and Italy.
