The International Cricket Council said there will be no penalty despite the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to hold the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. Notably, the global body also confirmed that Bangladesh will qualify for the ICC tournament ahead of co-hosting the 2031 Men’s ODI World Cup with India.

Bangladesh has been excluded from the ongoing World Cup as the team is not allowed to travel to India to compete. The Bangladesh Cricket Board requested that their match be moved to Sri Lanka, but the International Cricket Council rejected the offer and opted to move their match to Scotland.

ICC announces no sanctions for Bangladesh’s absence from T20 World Cup

The ICC on Monday confirmed that it will not take any action against Bangladesh for refusing to participate in the T20 World Cup in India. The decision was taken after discussions between the BCB and the Pakistan Cricket Board, which had previously threatened to boycott the match against India.

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“Both parties agreed not to impose any financial, sporting or administrative penalties on the Bangladesh Cricket Board in connection with the current incident,” the ICC said in a statement.

“As is known, BCB reserves the right to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) should BCB choose to do so. This right exists under current ICC regulations and remains unchanged.

“The ICC’s approach is guided by the principles of neutrality and impartiality and reflects the shared goal of promoting support rather than punishment.

Bangladesh to host international ICC events ahead of 2031 World Cup

The ICC said Bangladesh will host major ICC events between 2028 and 2031. Notably, the global body added that hosting programs are subject to its standard approval process, timelines and operating conditions.

“As part of this understanding, an agreement has been reached whereby Bangladesh will host an ICC event prior to the 2031 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, subject to usual ICC hosting processes, timetables and operational requirements.”

“This reflects the confidence in Bangladesh’s ability as hosts and reinforces the International Cricket Council’s commitment to providing meaningful hosting opportunities for member countries to develop cricket in the country.”

ICC reaffirms commitment to gaming dialogue, solidarity and integrity

The Pakistan Cricket Board has said the team will participate in the tournament but not the group match against India on February 15 in Colombo.

The ICC, PCB, BCB and other member committees later agreed to keep discussions open and work together in a collaborative manner. All parties stated that the common goal of this understanding is to safeguard the integrity of cricket and maintain the unity of the global cricket community.

“The International Cricket Federation, PCB and BCB and other members remain committed to continued dialogue, collaboration and constructive engagement in the best interests of the sport. All stakeholders acknowledge that the spirit of this understanding is to protect the integrity of the game and maintain unity within the cricket fraternity.”

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