How ICC may penalise Bangladesh

After a meeting with the government's sports advisor in Dhaka on Thursday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided it would not travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup - stating they would rather play out their fixtures in Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the upcoming tournament. Pulling out of a major ICC tournament like the T20 World Cup 2026 is likely to have major repercussions for the BCB, ranging from financial sanctions to possible long-term isolation in the cricketing world, report agencies.
According to the ICC's Member Participation Agreement (MPA), a board that withdraws after committing to a global event may face a hefty fine. Also, their revenue share as per the 2024-2027 model (approximately $20 million annually) will probably take a hit.
Ranking points loss may push out of automatic World Cup qualification
Ranking points would be stripped, potentially costing Bangladesh automatic qualification for future World Cups and Champions Trophy events. Instead of direct entry, they could find themselves dragged into qualifiers against lower-ranked associate sides.
Hosting future ICC events at risk
Hosting rights are also at risk. A withdrawal could see Bangladesh lose the chance to stage future ICC events, a blow that would ripple through local infrastructure, sponsorships, and broadcast deals.
Limited franchise exposure makes crucial for cricketers
For the players, a World Cup is the stage. Bangladesh's cricketers get very little attention otherwise when it comes to getting picked in the various T20 franchise leagues. For example, Rishad Hossain's 14 wickets in the previous edition got him two call-ups to the BBL, which he is playing this season.