PCB, BCB Unite Again To Challenge BCCI For ICC Favouritism

Tamim Iqbal, Jay Shah and Mohsin Naqvi [Source: AFP]

The Pakistan Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board have joined hands to support each other at Asian and international cricket forums to rebel against the apex cricket bodies.

The demand primarily came with a common motive of seeking greater balance in the Future Tours Programme for the 2028-31 cycle, and also due to similar ideologies over the two-tier system in the World Test Championship and the distribution of equal shares from ICC events, rejecting the BCCI.

BCB and PCB discuss major agendas in Dhaka meeting

Reportedly, a source, as per PTI, close to PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi elaborated that there was a two-day visit to Dhaka with positive assurances from Bangladesh's interim cricket head Tamim Iqbal about backing each other despite the earlier fallout between the two nations after Bangladesh's exit from the T20 World Cup 2026.

As per the source, during the PCB and BCB Dhaka visit, Naqvi met with Bangladesh's sports ministers and also Iqbal. The crux of the meeting remained the discussion around the need to reject any move to create a two-tier system in the World Test Championship.

"During his visit to Dhaka he met with the Bangladesh sports and some other ministers and also was accompanied by Tamim Iqbal the interim head of Bangladesh cricket," the source told PTI.

What is the two-tier WTC system?

The proposed two-tier system for the WTC was a plan to split Test-playing nations into two divisions with a mechanism for promotion and relegation.

As per the proposed scheme, 12 nations would have to split into two divisions, likely with six teams each. Highly-ranked teams like India, Australia, and England would be in Tier 1. Meanwhile, lower-ranked teams such as West Indies, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan would be placed in Tier 2.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board feared a "fallow period,” due to the two-tier system. There were also funding gaps, and hence the proposal has reportedly been shelved as of May 2026.

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Mohsin Naqvi and Iqbal eye ICC shares challenging BCCI

Naqvi also added that there should be more distribution of shares from ICC events in the new financial cycle after 2027 while rebelling against nations like India, Australia, and England, who are currently getting the lion's share of matches in the WTC.

"Both boards agreed that at present India, Australia and England get the lions share of matches in the WTC with countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies etc not getting due importance in the schedule," the source added.

Further discussions were held on bringing other cricket boards together to form a stronger bloc to enhance cooperation at the Asian level.

"Naqvi and Tamim both agreed to speak with other boards and convince them to support them at the ICC level but it was decided that Pakistan and Bangladesh would be supporting each other in every issue at the Asian or ICC levels," he said.

No Bangladesh-India friendship yet

More importantly, the source dismissed the growing speculation that Bangladesh was affiliated with India and was moving closer towards building cricketing relationships. The source totally dismissed those rumours and further solidified the PCB and BCB relationship.

"Bangladesh obviously has to look after its own interests but in the discussions it was agreed that the understanding and support for each other both boards had shown in the World T20 Cup issue should continue at every level," he said.

When will ICC and ACC hold their next Annual Meetings?

The next scheduled International Cricket Council annual general meeting is likely to take place from March 25 to 27 in Doha, Qatar, while the annual conference will be held in July.

The Asian Cricket Council too will hold its general meeting for the year 2026 in July, which might see the PCB and BCB, headed by Mohsin Naqvi and Tamim Iqbal respectively, bring up these issues to the forefront.

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