No Penalty for Bangladesh Over T20 World Cup Issue, ICC Confirms

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Bangladesh will not face any penalty for its refusal to play matches of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India, a decision that ultimately led to the team’s exclusion from the tournament.

In a statement released on Monday, the ICC said no financial, sporting or administrative sanctions would be imposed on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and announced that Bangladesh would be awarded hosting rights for an ICC event prior to the 2031 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, which it is set to co-host with India.

“It is agreed that no financial, sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on Bangladesh Cricket Board in relation to the current matter,” the ICC said. “It is acknowledged that BCB retains the right to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), should it choose to do so. This right exists under current ICC regulations and remains intact.”

The ICC added that its stance was guided by principles of neutrality and fairness, emphasising facilitative support rather than punitive action. As part of the agreement, Bangladesh will host an ICC event before the 2031 World Cup, subject to standard hosting procedures and operational requirements.

“This reflects confidence in Bangladesh’s capability as a host and reinforces the ICC’s commitment to providing meaningful hosting opportunities across its membership to develop cricket in the country,” the statement said.

Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the ongoing T20 World Cup after the country’s government refused to grant permission for the team to travel to India. The BCB had proposed relocating Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka, but the ICC Board voted against the request and opted to replace the team instead.

The situation arose amid deteriorating political relations between India and Bangladesh, shortly after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) removed Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League for unspecified reasons.

Bangladesh’s exclusion took on added significance after the Pakistan government announced that its team would participate in the T20 World Cup but would boycott its group-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. Pakistan linked its decision to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament, making some form of redress for the BCB central to subsequent discussions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the ICC.

On Sunday, ICC deputy chair Imran Khawaja met with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCB president Aminul Islam in Lahore. The PCB said a decision regarding Pakistan’s proposed boycott is expected soon, while confirming that Bangladesh’s situation has now been resolved.

ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta described Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup as “regrettable” but said it did not diminish the ICC’s long-term commitment to the country.

“Bangladesh remains a priority cricket ecosystem deserving of long-term investment in its development, competitiveness and global integration, and is not defined by short-term disruptions,” Gupta said.