Mohsin Naqvi's PCB confirms Pakistan's T20 World Cup participation; deletes press release later

PCB almost confirms T20 World Cup participation [Source: X.com]

A recent media report created strong discussion after a press release from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appeared online and then disappeared within seconds on Friday. The brief statement seemed to quietly confirm Pakistan’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Intially, the statement from PCB mentioned that the Pakistan Cricket Team is all set to travel to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup while also confirming Mohammad Wasim's exclusion fron the PAK vs AUS T20I series.

PCB drops hint on T20 World Cup 2026 participation

Notably, the tournament is scheduled to begin on February 7 and will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The confirmation did not come through a formal announcement. Instead, it appeared as part of a routine media note related to squad changes. 

Soon after, the statement was taken down and later reposted with a key paragraph removed. This sudden change raised questions and triggered reactions across social media.

PCB press release edited after going public

The original media brief was issued by the PCB media manager while announcing the release of fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr from the national squad. Within that release, a paragraph mentioned Pakistan’s travel plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup. According to reports, several journalists noticed the reference and shared screenshots online. 

Shortly afterward, the PCB deleted the statement and reissued it. The revised version focused only on Wasim Jr’s removal from the squad and made no mention of the World Cup. As a result, confusion grew regarding whether the earlier confirmation was shared by mistake or removed intentionally.

At the same time, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi indicated that official approval from the government is still awaited regarding Pakistan’s participation in the tournament. He recently met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the issue in detail. 

These talks gained importance after the International Cricket Council removed Bangladesh as a co-host. It is important to note that Pakistan have shown public support for Bangladesh, and discussions around possible protest actions have taken place.

Mohammad Wasim Jr’s sudden exclusion from Pakistan squad

The press release that caused the stir was mainly focused on Mohammad Wasim Jr. The PCB announced that the 24-year-old fast bowler had been released from the squad for the remaining matches of the home T20I series against Australia. The statement did not explain the reason behind this decision. 

It is important to mention that Wasim Jr recently delivered strong performances during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker with five wickets in just two matches at an impressive average of 12.20.

Despite his form, Wasim Jr did not feature in the playing eleven for the opening T20I against Australia, which Pakistan won by 22 runs. Later, he was excluded from the  T20 World Cup 2026 squad. 

Following that decision, he was released from the ongoing Australia series as well. This sequence of events has been viewed by many as inconsistent treatment of a promising fast bowler. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan currently lead the series 1–0, with the second match set to take place on January 31 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.