No Sanctions on BCB; ICC gives big relief to Bangladesh despite not participating in T20 World Cup 2026
Bangladesh emerge as the winner from the trilateral meeting between the ICC, PCB, and BCB.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and government had earlier announced that their cricket team would boycott the highly anticipated group-stage match against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
This decision stemmed primarily from solidarity with Bangladesh, whose participation in the tournament was terminated after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to play any matches in India due to cited security concerns.
The ICC rejected Bangladesh‘s request to relocate their games to Sri Lanka, deeming there was no verifiable threat, and replaced them with Scotland.
During the ICC discussions, Pakistan were the only country to support Bangladesh’s stance, justifying their boycott in support of their “brotherly” neighbor amidst alleged unfair treatment by the ICC and the host countries.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the move as a “clear stand” to support Bangladesh. On the other hand, the government issued a statement granting approval for the team to participate in the tournament but explicitly barring them from facing India.
The boycott raised significant concerns for global cricket, as the India-Pakistan clash is the most lucrative fixture, potentially affecting ICC revenue sharing, broadcasting deals, and future agreements that smaller nations depend on.
Bangladesh request PCB to play against India
In a surprising turnaround late on February 9, 2026, the BCB issued a statement urging Pakistan to reverse the boycott and play the match as scheduled.
BCB president Md. Aminul Islam recently visited Pakistan and held discussions with PCB and ICC officials in Lahore, expressing deep appreciation for Pakistan’s support during the crisis. He emphasized the need to prioritize the “benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” in a lengthy press release:
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish.” Islam formally requested that Pakistan proceed with the February 15 fixture against India.
Moreover, Bangladesh have been granted massive relief by ICC. The body decided not to impose any sanctions or penalties on BCB despite their late move to withdraw from the competition.
Moreover, Bangladesh have been offered hosting rights for an ICC event before the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031.
Why did Pakistan initially announce a boycott of the India match?
Pakistan cited solidarity with Bangladesh, which was removed from the tournament after refusing to play matches in India due to security concerns.
What relief did Bangladesh receive from the ICC?
Bangladesh avoided sanctions despite withdrawing late and were awarded hosting rights for an ICC event before the 2031 Cricket World Cup.
What role did Bangladesh play in the ICC–PCB meeting?
Bangladesh representatives were involved in discussions and later formally requested Pakistan to drop the boycott for the broader benefit of global cricket.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.