Pakistan may boycott its high-profile T20 World Cup 2026 match against arch-rivals India amid growing discontent with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) handling of Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament, Pakistani media reported on Monday.
According to Pakistan media outlet Geo News, sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the board is considering multiple options to formally register its protest, including refusing to play the India fixture scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sources added that while such a move would result in a deduction of only two points, it could cause significant financial losses for the PCB due to broadcasting and commercial implications.
Despite this, the board is said to be keeping all options open, even if it ultimately decides to participate in the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7.
The development comes in the wake of the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns. The BCB had requested that its matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament, but the ICC rejected the plea, stating that there was no “credible or verifiable security threat” to the Bangladesh national team in India.
In a detailed statement, the ICC said it reviewed Bangladesh’s concerns, commissioned independent security assessments from internal and external experts, and shared comprehensive security and operational plans, including enhanced federal and state-level arrangements.
The PCB, however, has publicly backed Bangladesh, accusing the ICC of “double standards” and reiterating that it would follow directives from the Pakistani government regarding participation in the event. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi reportedly briefed national team players on Sunday about the board’s principled stance, stressing the importance of keeping politics out of cricket while standing by what he termed the game’s “golden principles.”
Highly placed sources further revealed that the PCB is even weighing a complete withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026, though such a step would carry major sporting and financial consequences. A final decision is expected after a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PCB Chairman Naqvi in Islamabad on Monday.
The controversy is unfolding against the backdrop of strained Bangladesh–India relations following political turmoil in Dhaka last year. The tensions have spilled into cricket, with Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman being dropped from the Indian Premier League despite signing with a Kolkata-based franchise, prompting Bangladesh to ban IPL broadcasts and renew demands for neutral venues.
The standoff echoes earlier disputes in South Asian cricket, including hybrid hosting models used in recent ICC and ACC tournaments to accommodate political sensitivities between India and Pakistan.
