LAHORE: The central government will take the final decision regarding the national team’s participation in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday.
The announcement was made earlier today after the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to replace Bangladesh with Scotland to travel to India, less than a month before the start of the 20-team mega event.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) took the decision earlier this month after Indian Premier League (IPL) owners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released veteran Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad on the orders of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The two sides then engaged in several talks, but a solution was not reached, and earlier this week the ICC issued a 24-hour ultimatum, formally announcing that it would reject BCB’s petition, saying the schedule of the match would remain intact.
Amid the ongoing ICC-PCB tussle, sources suggest that 2009 champions Pakistan may also boycott the 2026 T20 World Cup if Bangladesh opts out.
Meanwhile, while talking to the media today, PCB President Naqvi said that the cricket board will take a decision as per the guidelines of the Pakistan government.
“Prime Minister (Shehbaz Sharif) is not in the country now. We will announce the final decision after he (Prime Minister) returns,” Naqvi said when asked about Pakistan’s stand on the ICC decision on Bangladesh.
He further asserted that Bangladesh was treated unfairly by the apex body which he slammed as having “double standards”.
“Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. I said the same in the International Cricket Council (ICC) board meeting. You cannot have a double standard, one country can take any decision anytime and another country can do the complete opposite,” Naqvi continued.
“That is why Bangladesh is being treated unfairly and we have taken a stand that they should be allowed to play in the World Cup. They are an important stakeholder and this injustice should not be done,” he added.
Naqvi also referred to the BCCI’s influence in the ICC’s decision-making, noting that “one country cannot dictate to another” and warned that Pakistan would take a stand if it tried to dictate.
“The thing is, Bangladesh is the same member with Pakistan. And our position is that if you have given this help to Pakistan and India, you should do the same to Bangladesh,” he said.
“The main reason for this is that one country cannot dictate to another country. If this mandate is attempted, Pakistan certainly has its own position,” he said.
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