Bangladesh could face serious repercussions if they choose not to travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with reports suggesting the team may be forced to forfeit points should they fail to honour their scheduled fixtures.

According to ESPNcricinfo, conflicting accounts have emerged following a virtual meeting between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held on Tuesday. The meeting was convened after the BCB formally approached the ICC on Sunday, requesting that Bangladesh’s matches slated for India be relocated to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.

Reports indicate that the ICC rejected the request and informed the BCB that Bangladesh would be required to travel to India to participate in the tournament. Failure to do so, the ICC reportedly warned, could lead to the forfeiture of points in the competition.

However, the BCB has disputed these claims, maintaining that no such ultimatum or threat of sanctions was communicated during the discussion. The board insists it received no formal directive from the ICC regarding compulsory travel or penalties.

As of now, neither the ICC nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released an official statement clarifying the outcome of the meeting.

The situation has intensified in the wake of the sudden release of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mustafizur was bought for INR 9.2 crore in the December auction before being released, reportedly on directives from the BCCI. The move sparked strong discontent within the BCB and is believed to have prompted its formal approach to the ICC.

The uncertainty comes less than a month before the start of the 20-team T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

Bangladesh have been placed in Group C and are due to play their first three matches in Kolkata against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. They will conclude their group-stage campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.