The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly begun the process to call up Scotland for the T20 World Cup 2026, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) failed to file a formal response within the stipulated 24-hour deadline, confirming whether they will play in the ICC tournament or not.

BCB failed to communicate its position to the ICC within the timeframe specified, despite media reports indicating that internal discussions were held with government officials and player representation. However, Cricbuzz has reported that there had been no formal response from the BCB.

BCB president Aminul Islam mentioned the prospect of a last-minute miracle, but with the ICC board having already decided on the issue, there was no sign of a late shift in opinion from the governing body.

The BCB had until Thursday to decide if it was willing to fly to India, but it remained firm, stating that it would not do so owing to security concerns for its players.

"Now this ICC tournament is being held in India. No matter how much the ICC says there is no security risk, the ICC does not have its own country. The country where my player was not safe - and where the Indian cricket board, which is an extended arm of the government, failed or was unwilling to provide him security under pressure from extremists - that is the country hosting this tournament," Asif Nazrul, the Bangladesh government's sports advisor, said on Thursday.

From the ICC's standpoint, the route forward is clear. If Bangladesh had decided to participate, the situation would have ended there. Otherwise, the ICC was anticipated to invite a replacement team, with Scotland being the most likely contender.

ICC has been waiting for clarity from Bangladesh for the past 24 hours. It may now act quickly to formalize Scotland's participation in the T20 World Cup.

(Cricbuzz report)