Mohsin Naqvi’s PCB changes T20 World Cup stance after Bangladesh gets ICC ultimatum

PCB changes stance over ICC's ultimatum to Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026 [Image Credits: X]

In a major development, the Pakistan Cricket Board has made it clear that it will not boycott the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 even if Bangladesh is terminated from the tournament.

Notably, to express solidarity with Bangladesh, the PCB had earlier stated that it stood with the nation and would support every decision taken by them. 

However, when asked whether Pakistan would also pull out of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 if Bangladesh’s matches were not shifted out of India, a PCB source told RevSportz, “No, this is not the PCB's stand.”

PCB will not boycott T20 World Cup 2026

Speaking further, the PCB source explained that given Pakistan’s current situation, where the team is already scheduled to play its matches outside India at Sri Lankan venues, they have no valid grounds to withdraw from the tournament.

The source added, “People just float such things to fire up the issue.” This stance marks a shift from what was being suggested a few days earlier.

Previously, Pakistan had publicly expressed full support for Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India for the World Cup.

It was also reportedly claimed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had reached out to its Pakistani counterpart seeking diplomatic and cricketing support amid the ongoing tussle with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

How did PCB take stance for Bangladesh?

Earlier, several sections of the Pakistani media had reported that the PCB had paused preparations for the national team ahead of the World Cup.

Reports also suggested that the board had been asked to prepare a contingency plan in case Pakistan decided not to participate.

However, all these developments now appear to have taken a U-turn, with Pakistan stepping back after the ICC issued an ultimatum to Bangladesh with a January 21 deadline.

Why was Bangladesh given an ultimatum by the ICC?

For context, the ICC has issued an ultimatum to the Bangladesh Cricket Board to confirm their participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 by January 21. Failure to do so would result in Bangladesh being replaced by another nation, most likely Scotland, in the tournament.

The ICC has rejected all proposals put forward by Bangladesh and has stood firm on the original schedule, citing logistical and commercial reasons.

If the BCB continues to refuse participation beyond the January 21 deadline, the ICC is expected to activate its contingency plan and announce a replacement team to ensure the tournament proceeds smoothly.

Reason behind Bangladesh’s decision to boycott India venues

The Bangladesh Cricket Board cited security concerns regarding playing in India following a surge of anti-Muslim and anti-Islam sentiments across social media platforms. This sudden rise in hostility was triggered by the mob lynching of a Hindu individual, Deepu Das, in Bangladesh. 

The incident led to severe unrest on Indian social media, which reportedly resulted in Mustafizur Rahman being boycotted at the Kolkata Knight Riders camp during the Indian Premier League.

Gradually, this unrest spilled over into the Bangladesh camp, where threats allegedly emerged suggesting that Bangladeshi cricketers would not be safe if they travelled to India.

As a result, the BCB formally conveyed its concerns for player safety to the ICC and requested that Bangladesh’s matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka.

However, according to recent developments, the ICC has rejected all such requests and is now awaiting Bangladesh’s response to the ultimatum. The prestigious ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh’s participation still uncertain as the deadline approaches.