Bangladesh decided to boycott the tournament in India, citing safety concerns and requesting to play their games in Sri Lanka instead. The ICC rejected the request, saying there was no credible security threat. When Bangladesh stuck to their decision, the ICC invited Scotland, ranked 14th in the world, as the highest-ranked team not already qualified, to take their place in Group C.
Scotland will face West Indies on the opening day in Kolkata, and will also play England, Italy, and Nepal in the group. The team had already been training for a tri-series with Namibia and Oman, so preparations were underway, though visa arrangements and a quick turnaround will be a challenge.
This is a rare opportunity for Scotland, made possible due to the unusual circumstances, and Cricket Scotland’s chief executive Trudy Lindblade called it an exciting chance for the players to compete on the world stage.
