The International Cricket Council (ICC) expressed disappointment over Bangladesh’s decision to skip the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC confirmed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board will not face any penalties for this choice. However, there is still no news on whether India and Pakistan will meet on February 15 in Colombo. A meeting involving the PCB, ICC, and BCB took place in Lahore to address the situation.
Bangladesh had previously declined to travel to India for their World Cup games, leading to Scotland taking their place. The PCB criticized the ICC after their government prevented the team from playing against India in the tournament.
The BCB has asked Pakistan to proceed with the much-anticipated match against India in Sri Lanka.
“It has been agreed that there will be no financial, sporting, or administrative penalties against the Bangladesh Cricket Board regarding this issue,” the ICC stated.
“While Bangladesh’s absence from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is regrettable, it does not change the ICC’s ongoing commitment to Bangladesh as an important cricketing nation. We will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders, including BCB, to support the growth of the sport in the country and strengthen future opportunities for players and supporters,” said ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta.
“Bangladesh is a key cricketing environment that deserves long-term investment for its development, competitiveness, and global integration, and should not be defined by short-term challenges.”
