How much money will Bangladesh lose after T20 World Cup 2026 removal?

ICC replaces Bangladesh with Scotland

Bangladesh’s exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has triggered one of the biggest financial setbacks in the country’s cricketing history. After the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns, the International Cricket Council confirmed Scotland as its replacement for the tournament, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7. 

The standoff between the ICC and the BCB stretched over several weeks. Despite repeated assurances from the ICC and independent security assessments that rated the threat level in India as low to moderate, the BCB remained strong in its demand to shift its matches to Sri Lanka. That request was rejected by the ICC Board, which voted 14-2 against Bangladesh.

A final 24-hour ultimatum issued on January 21 to confirm participation passed without compliance. Bangladesh then approached the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee, but the action failed as the committee lacked the authority to overturn a Board decision. With no commitment forthcoming and the tournament fast approaching, the ICC formally removed Bangladesh and slotted Scotland into Group C.

How much money will Bangladesh lose after T20 World Cup 2026 removal?

However, the financial damage is expected to be substantial. By missing the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh stands to lose between USD 300,000 and USD 500,000 (approximately INR 2.7 to 4.6 crore) in participation fees for the group stage alone. 

Furthermore, under the ICC’s Member Participation Agreement, the global body is also empowered to impose a fine of up to USD 2 million (around INR 18 crore) for refusing to travel without an acceptable justification.

The biggest blow is set to come from lost revenue sharing. Bangladesh risk forfeiting up to USD 27 million (INR 225 crore), which accounts for nearly 60 percent of the BCB’s annual income. This money forms the backbone of Bangladesh cricket, funding player salaries, domestic tournaments, age-group cricket, and infrastructure development.

Bangladesh’s absence from a marquee global event severely reduces commercial exposure, directly affecting sponsorships and player endorsement deals. Several players are expected to miss out on lucrative bat and kit sponsorships tied to World Cup visibility. Additionally, strained relations with India could lead to the loss of high-revenue bilateral series in the future, another major income source for the BCB.