Scotland officially replaced Bangladesh on Saturday after refusing to tour India due to security concerns stemming from strained political relations.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches to co-host Sri Lanka, citing scheduling constraints ahead of the February 7 tournament start.
Reacting to the decision, WCA chief executive Tom Moffat said, "The withdrawal of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and resulting absence of a valued cricketing nation from cricket's pinnacle international T20 event, is a sad moment for our sport, the Bangladesh players and fans, and one that requires deep reflection."
He added, "Rather than allowing division or exclusion to take hold, we call on the game’s leaders to work with all stakeholders, including Governing Bodies, leagues and players, to unite the sport, not divide it"
The situation has further highlighted tensions within South Asian cricket. The ICC previously allowed India to play at neutral venues when political issues prevented tours to Pakistan. Pakistan, meanwhile, are set to play their matches in Sri Lanka, although their participation remains unconfirmed.
