The World Cricket Association (WCA) on Sunday described Bangladesh’s exit from the upcoming T20 World Cup as “a sad moment” for the sport, after the International Cricket Council confirmed Scotland as Bangladesh’s replacement for the tournament starting February 7.

The ICC announced on Saturday that it had taken a “difficult decision” to replace Bangladesh after concluding that it was not feasible to meet the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to shift its matches to Sri Lanka so close to the start of the competition.

“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,” WCA chief executive Tom Moffat said in a statement.

The BCB had refused to allow its team to travel to India, citing security concerns following the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League. The ICC, however, maintained there was no verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh team, officials or supporters in India and said it was not appropriate to alter the published schedule.

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“Cricket is at its strongest when every team and every player is treated with respect, supported appropriately and consistently, and able to participate on fair terms. The game is at its best when all participants are genuine contributors to its success,” Moffat said.

The WCA, a global body representing professional cricketers from several countries, said it was increasingly concerned about broader trends in the sport. “In recent times, the WCA has become increasingly concerned by broader trends in the sport, including agreements not being honoured, rights being eroded, and a lack of meaningful consultation with players and their representatives – all of this amounts to a careless approach to people that should not belong in cricket,” Moffat said.

He added that the episode exposed flaws in cricket’s global operating model that could weaken trust and unity if left unaddressed.

At an ICC Board meeting on Wednesday, Bangladesh’s proposal to shift matches was rejected by a 14–2 vote, with only Pakistan backing the move.

Calling for unity, Moffat said: “Rather than allowing division or exclusion to take hold, we call on the game’s leaders to work with all stakeholders… to unite the sport, not divide it.”