Pakistan creates new drama as PCB ignores Jay Shah's T20 World Cup boycott warning

PCB set to not send official email on India match boycott. [Source - @icc/@accmedia1/x]

The drama around Pakistan and its T20 World Cup 2026 campaign refuses to settle. Just when it seemed that clarity had arrived through an official government announcement, fresh confusion has taken over now, keeping the cricketing world guessing about Pakistan’s real position.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s government publicly declared that the national team would participate in the T20 World Cup but boycott the high-voltage group match against India on February 15. The statement instantly sent shockwaves across the global cricket ecosystem.

However, another twist has now emerged. Despite the strong words on social media, Pakistan has still not officially communicated its decision to the ICC or ICC chairman Jay Shah, triggering yet another layer of uncertainty and controversy.

Government tweet, but Jay Shah still waiting for PCB’s official mail

Pakistan’s government may have spoken loudly on X, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has maintained silence where it matters most, the official communication. As reported by NDTV, the PCB has no plans to send an official email to ICC and Jay Shah regarding the India match boycott.

This lack of written confirmation has left the ICC in a state of limbo. While the world body has acknowledged the government’s stance, it cannot act unless the PCB formally conveys the decision through official channels.

Jay Shah and the ICC are now waiting for clarity directly from the PCB. Until that mail arrives, Pakistan is technically still scheduled to play India, keeping the door open for more drama in the days ahead.

How the fiasco started and why ICC issued a strong warning

The current standoff of Pakistan is rooted in a broader web of political and cricketing tensions in the region. Strained relations involving India, Bangladesh and Pakistan spilled into cricket administration, dragging the ICC into a complicated situation ahead of a major global event.

Pakistan aligned itself with Bangladesh during the earlier controversy of ICC not shifting Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka, accusing the ICC of favouritism. That stance delayed PCB’s confirmation of participation, even as squads were announced and schedules finalized.

The ICC has broke its silence with a strongly-worded warning on Sunday, stressing that “selective participation” goes against the very principles of world tournaments. The governing body highlighted sporting integrity, fairness and competitiveness, cautioning that Pakistan’s position could have serious long-term consequences.

Mohsin Naqvi and PCB keep drama alive by skipping email to Jay Shah

Mohsin Naqvi and the PCB continue to fuel T20 World Cup drama as they take the bold step of not sending any official email to Jay Shah about their India match boycott. Their silence has turned the high-octane fixture in Colombo into a tense spectacle, keeping fans and the ICC guessing.

While the cricketing world waits for clarity, Mohsin Naqvi and his men seem to be enjoying the limelight, prolonging the standoff and adding another twist to the saga. The India fixture remains in limbo, and the PCB’s “childish” drama shows no signs of ending anytime soon.