Mohsin Naqvi, Jay Shah. Image Credits: X
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released an official statement on Pakistan government's stance of boycotting India vs Pakistan match in ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Notably, the Government of Pakistan conveyed its position on the matter on February 1.
The ICC and PCB have been at loggerheads for a long time now ever since Bangladesh was removed from T20 World Cup 2026. Before the official announcement, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi sided with Bangladesh Cricket Board on relocating it's T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
ICC, BCB, and PCB- The T20 World Cup fiasco conglomerate
The Bangladesh Cricket Board, Pakistan Cricket Board, and the International Cricket Council have been fighting out in the open as far as the next ICC T20 World Cup is concerned. This escalated when Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh's senior fast bowler, was denied permission to play in the IPL by BCCI despite being allowed a buy through KKR at IPL 2026 auction.
After the Mustafizur episode, the Bangladesh Cricket Board wrote to the ICC demanding a shift in their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. Intially, the Bangla Tigers were set to play 4 group games in the tournament with 3 matches taking place in Kolkata and 1 in Mumbai.
BCB did this after a solid backing from the Interim Government which stated that they have security concerns in India. Following this, the ICC conducted a thorough safety assessment for Bangladesh players in India and concluded that the safety threat was moderate to low, which is acceptable as per ICC norms.
However, despite multiple assurances, the BCB did not back down on its stance and the matter was later taken up for solution in one of the ICC Board Meetings. In the meeting, 14 members voted in favour of the ICC's stand and only Pakistan Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board voted in Bangladesh's favor.
This led to the ICC communicating BCB of its final position of not changing their T20 World Cup venue and asked BCB for a final response in the next 24 hours on January 23, 2026. The BCB, however, did not write back to the ICC in the stipulated time frame and hence, ICC named Scotland as Bangladesh's replacement for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Enter Mohsin Naqvi with hollow threats
As soon as ICC made the decision of replacing Bangladesh with Scotland, PCB Chair, Mohsin Naqvi, stated to Pakistani media that Pakistan's T20 World Cup participation is unsure as they stand with the injustice done to Bangladesh.
Mohsin Naqvi, in a press conference, stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board's allegiance is not to the ICC but rather to the Pakistan government, who will have a final say on the matter. On 26th January, 2026, Mohsin Naqvi met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to finalize Pakistan's T20 World Cup plans.
However, Naqvi stated after the meeting that a final decision regarding the team's participation at T20 World Cup could not be reached and there will be further deliberations on the subject with a final decision set to arrive by February 2, 2026.
Pakistan government announces unilateral IND vs PAK boycott
On February 1, 2026, the government of Pakistan, in a post shared via X (Formerly Twitter) stated that the Men in Green will travel to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup but they will not take the field in the game against India on February 15, 2026.
"The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026. however. the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India," read the tweet.
As soon as the announcement was made, the news spread quickly with the ICC also reacting to the event. Although fans expected the council to come out with harsh criticism, the ICC shocked everyone by stating that Pakistan government's position hasn't been conveyed by the PCB to ICC.
ICC release a media statement
"The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026," ICC said in a media statement.
"While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule," the statement further read.
The International Cricket Council went on to further state that this decision can have bad complications for Pakistan and it's cricketing ecosystem going forward and asked the PCB to reconsider it's government's position on the matter.
"ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions. "
"While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan," added the ICC statement.
"The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of."
"The ICC's priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup which should also be the responsibility of all its members including the PCB. It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders," the ICC statement concluded.
Cricket- A joke beyond borders
In all the drama and political posturing, the only element that suffers in the current ecosystem is the sport itself. Cricket, which was once supposed to be a global phenomenon, reaching places it had never been before, has crippled under the political fist fights that should have been kept away.
The broadcaster, who is the ultimate decision-maker behind the scenes, for years, neglected the storm brewing in its own backyard. Taking full advantage of the political animosity among nations, the broadcaster fuelled even more fire to the jungle that would ultimately burn them down.
The International Cricket Council, which was built not just to regulate the sport but also grow it, was so busy counting money, that they forgot, that bank lockers will not bring a 3rd grader to Maidaans. Now that the counting machine has stopped, the ICC is coming to terms with the organisational mess that has been neglected for years.
For any sport to grow and nurture, it needs icons who inspire a generation and passion that fuels the willingness to represent your team and be the best. This can not be done if organisations who are meant to serve the purpose are busy ignoring the systematic loopholes.
The T20 World Cup 2026 tagline is 'Feel the Thrill'. When ICC coined it, little did they know, that a week before the tournament, the Council will be the one feeling the most thrilled, and not the fans.
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