Jay Shah Amit Shah Mohsin Naqvi. Image Credits: X
The T20 World Cup 2026 is just a few days away, and Pakistan’s drama is not even fading out. Despite confirming their participation in the tournament, their decision to boycott the group-stage clash against India has added yet another explosive twist to an already heated storyline.
After the ICC released an official statement prohibiting selective participation, the decision didn’t go down well with the PCB. Amidst this, former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif fired shots at the ICC chairman Jay Shah.
The ICC-PCB standoff refuses to cool down
After a two-year halt, the excitement of the T20 World Cup 2026 has returned as the tournament has returned with another edition loaded with unreal thrills. But even before the tournament went on the live stage, some of the off-field drama was taking the excitement to another level.
While Bangladesh walked out of the tournament, Pakistan’s participation created a massive buzz. After tons of speculation regarding this, PCB confirmed their participation, but with a dramatic twist. Despite being scheduled to face India in a group-stage clash on February 15, Pakistan decided to skip the high-voltage encounter.
However, the ICC took a firm stand against selective participation in the tournament. As the live matches are set to go on the big stage, the cold war between the ICC and PCB is far away from cooling down.
Rashid Latif takes a fiery swipe at Jay Shah
With no official statement reversing Pakistan’s decision, ICC chairman Jay Shah suddenly found himself under intense scrutiny. After the ICC opposed the selective participation, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif attacked him. Citing his father’s role in Indian politics, Latif even questioned Jay Shah’s qualification.
“Jay Shah’s qualifications are that he’s the son of the Indian Home Minister, and that’s it. He’s got no particular vision, no particular skills, he’s not particularly charismatic, he doesn’t have a huge track record,” he wrote on his social media handle.
Uncertain future looms over the blockbuster India-Pakistan clash
Over the years, the India-Pakistan rivalry has been the most gripping contest in the cricket world. Across formats, over the years, the clash has entertained fans with its unreal thrills. But the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup 2026 may be an exceptional one without the high-voltage clash.
The tournament is just three days away, and the drama between the arch-rivals is still far away from fading. Amid the uncertainty, fresh reports suggest a behind-the-scenes brainstorming session is underway. Sources claim the PCB could even make a surprise U-turn after the Bangladesh election.
Things are far from being sorted. If the PCB withdraws its decision to boycott the match against India, it could avoid a massive financial setback. With both India and Pakistan set to begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7, uncertainty continues to loom over their fiery face-off.
