Bangladesh replaced by Scotland at T20 World Cup, reports say

Jan 24 : Bangladesh have been replaced by Scotland for next month's Twenty20 World Cup after the South Asian side refused to travel to co-hosts India, media reports said on Saturday citing sources within the sport's governing International Cricket Council.

The decision follows weeks of uncertainty, during which the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) repeatedly insisted it would not play its scheduled matches in India, citing safety concerns following soured political relations between the neighbours.

Bangladesh had asked the ICC to move their games to the tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka instead, but the governing body rejected the demand, dismissing any security threat to the team.

Scotland, the highest-ranked non-qualifier, are now set to take Bangladesh's place in Group C, which features England, Italy, Nepal and West Indies, the BBC reported.

Reuters has contacted the ICC, BCB and Cricket Scotland for comment.

PROTESTS NEAR BANGLADESH HIGH COMMISSION

Last month, hundreds of people protested near Bangladesh's High Commission in New Delhi after Hindu factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and set on fire in Bangladesh's Mymensingh district by a crowd that accused him of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.

A total of 12 people were arrested in connection with his death.

The incident worsened relations between India and its neighbour, with ties already strained after Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi following protests against her.

Political tensions have spilled into cricket.

Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from this year's Indian Premier League despite signing with its Kolkata franchise. Bangladesh responded by banning IPL broadcasts in the country and demanding to play