India, Jan. 24 -- Bangladesh's standoff with the ICC over playing the Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India has shifted from warning shots to real damage.

On January 24, Bangladesh were replaced in the tournament line-up, shutting the door on their participation before the event begins on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka.

Being removed from the event is the obvious sporting blow, but the bigger cost is what it does to Bangladesh's longer World Cup pathway. Bangladesh had booked their place for 2026 through performance-based qualification from previous edition - one of the cleanest routes teams have because it is decided on the field, not in qualifiers or at rankings cut-offs.

Now that route is gone for the next cycle, and the conseque...