Bangladesh Faces ICC Wrath: World Cup Boycott Threatens Severe Penalties

• Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided not to play 2026 T20 World Cup matches in India, citing political reasons and government consent.
• ICC issued a 24-hour deadline to BCB, which expired without a change in Bangladesh's stance.
• An urgent ICC meeting, attended by 12 full members and 4 associate nations, voted 14-2 to proceed with the World Cup as scheduled, rejecting Bangladesh's demand for a neutral venue.
• Potential penalties for Bangladesh include forfeiture of match points, financial penalties for 'Breach of Agreement' and operational costs, and loss of participation fees and ICC revenue share.
• ICC may replace Bangladesh with an alternative team (Scotland is a frontrunner) or impose a temporary ban, affect voting rights, and special privileges if political interference is confirmed.

Why It Matters: Bangladesh's decision to boycott the T20 World Cup in India could lead to severe ICC sanctions.