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The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that it will not impose any penalty on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India.
The decision was taken after discussions with the BCB and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Pakistan had earlier announced it would boycott its February 15 match against India in support of Bangladesh.
ICC on Bangladesh's refusal for T20 World Cup 2026
In an official statement, the ICC said Bangladesh will not face any financial, sporting or administrative action over the issue. It also clarified that the BCB still has the option to approach the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee if it chooses to do so.
The ICC said its handling of the matter was guided by neutrality and fairness, adding that the focus was on supporting member boards rather than punishing them.
Bangladesh had refused to travel to India for the tournament due to security concerns and were replaced by Scotland.
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As part of the understanding reached, the ICC also confirmed that Bangladesh will host an ICC event between 2028 and 2031, ahead of the Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2031. The cricketing governing body said this decision reflects confidence in Bangladesh’s ability to host major events and underlines its commitment to developing cricket in the country.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta on Bangladesh's absence
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup was unfortunate but would not affect its long-term standing in world cricket. He added that the ICC remains fully committed to working with the BCB to strengthen the game and create future opportunities for Bangladeshi players and fans.
According to the ICC, Bangladesh remains an important cricketing nation and a key market for the sport, with long-term investment planned despite the current disruption.
BCB president Aminul Islam travelled to Pakistan on Sunday as part of efforts to ease the standoff. He held discussions with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and also took part in a virtual meeting involving the ICC.
BCB urged PCB to reconsider the boycott
In a statement issued in Dhaka, Islam said he had requested Pakistan to withdraw its boycott call and play the T20 World Cup match against India for the good of the game.
Sources familiar with the talks said Naqvi had asked Islam to make a formal appeal to Pakistan, which provided a way to step back from the boycott without escalating tensions.
Naqvi said on Monday that a final decision on Pakistan’s participation in the match against India would be taken within the next 24 hours, as talks with the ICC and Bangladesh continued.
The situation began after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from his IPL franchise on the BCCI’s instructions, which led to Bangladesh refusing to tour India.
ICC reaffirms Bangladesh’s status
The ICC later said it had completed open and constructive discussions with both the PCB and BCB, covering the T20 World Cup and the wider future of cricket in South Asia.
The world body reaffirmed Bangladesh’s status as a valued Full Member with a strong cricketing history and an important role in the global game. It also stressed that Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup would not have any long-term impact on cricket in the country.
The ICC added that all parties remain committed to ongoing dialogue and cooperation, and that the current understanding does not affect the ICC’s governance structure or decision-making authority.
According to the ICC, the shared aim of all stakeholders is to protect the integrity of the game and maintain unity within the cricketing community.
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