ICC likely to revoke Bangladesh’s Test status after T20 World Cup 2026 pullout

Bangladesh cricket has landed in serious trouble, and the impact could go far beyond just one tournament.

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 set to be played in India and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh’s refusal to play their group matches in Mumbai and Kolkata has triggered a strong response from the International Cricket Council (ICC), putting their future under the scanner.

Bangladesh’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 standoff puts ICC on alert

Actually, the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) strong stance over the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has now threatened their place as a Test-playing nation. Bangladesh earned Test status in June 2000, becoming the 10th nation to play the longest format of the game.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

The moment was celebrated across the country after memorable performances in the late 1990s, including their historic ICC Trophy win in 1997 and the unforgettable 1999 World Cup upset against Pakistan that announced their arrival on the global stage.

Read Also: Virat Kohli’s Test retirement ripped apart as ex-India captain smells regret

Just months later, Bangladesh played its first Test match in Dhaka against India, and the entire country celebrated like never before, with fireworks, street celebrations, and national pride at its peak as it marked the beginning of a new era for Bangladeshi cricket on the global stage.

From Test status glory to growing doubts

But more than two decades later, that proud status is now under serious pressure. Over the years, questions have been raised about Bangladesh’s consistency, as they have managed only 14 wins from more than 120 matches in over two decades of Test cricket.

Their struggles placed them at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) since its start, adding fuel to an old debate about whether newer Test nations truly meet traditional standards. Now, that debate has returned at the worst possible time.

The current storm revolves around the 2026 T20 World Cup. Bangladesh is reluctant to play their group matches in India, citing security concerns. However, the ICC, headed by the former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, reportedly has made it clear that the tournament will go ahead as planned and that Bangladesh will also have to play their matches in India as scheduled.

Financial losses, rankings risk, and hosting rights under threat

According to media reports, the ICC has issued a strict warning, as they have given Bangladesh a strict deadline to confirm participation. If Bangladesh refuses to play, Scotland is expected to replace them in the tournament based on rankings, which would be a financial blow for the BCB.

The ICC rules state that Bangladesh will face sanctions under the Member Participation Agreement for withdrawal from an ICC event. Bangladesh could face heavy punishment, and financial losses would be immediate, as they would lose around 300,000 dollars per game.

On top of that, the BCB would face a penalty in millions for withdrawal from the T20 World Cup, with some estimates reaching two million dollars. The damage would not stop there, as Bangladesh also risks losing prize money, commercial revenue, dropping from the ICC Rankings, and ICC funding that reportedly touches nearly 20 million dollars every year.

Read Also: Bangladesh govt accuses Jay Shah-led ICC of ‘Injustice’ after shocking T20 World Cup 2026 pullout

Additionally, Bangladesh might not be eligible for automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup, and they have to go through a tougher qualification route, which would be a massive setback for them. This issue could also strain Bangladesh’s ties with India, putting future bilateral series at risk.

ICC plans to revoke Bangladesh’s Test membership!!

And more importantly, Bangladesh could also lose the co-hosting rights for the 2031 ODI World Cup if the standoff continues with the ICC. Notably, India and Bangladesh are scheduled to host the event in 2031.

However, there is no official confirmation that the ICC will revoke Bangladesh’s Test membership, but media reports claimed that the governing body is planning to make that harsh move.

Still, there is still a small window for resolution. The BCB has reportedly asked for tighter security arrangements. Diplomatic talks and ICC negotiations could still change the situation. But if no compromise is reached, Bangladesh cricket faces harsh consequences.