New Delhi: The Pakistan cricket team reportedly might pull out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament for refusing to travel to India. The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially replaced Bangladesh in the tournament last week after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to change its stance on not travelling to India, citing security concerns.
ICC made the decision to replace Bangladesh in the tournament after its board of members voted in favour of having another team take their place if the BCB didn’t agree to send its team to India. As per a report in Pakistan’s Geo News, the Pakistan government is not happy with the ICC’s treatment of Bangladesh and may ask the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to send its team for the T20 World Cup 2026.
The PCB is still waiting for the final clearance from the Pakistan government regarding their participation in the T20 World Cup 2026. The decision is expected to be taken after a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday.
“The final decision rests with the prime minister, but early indications suggest that the government may not allow Pakistan to participate in the T20 World Cup,” a senior Pakistan government source was quoted as saying by Geo News.
“This is not just about cricket; it is about principles. Bangladesh has been deprived of its legitimate right, and the ICC’s stepmotherly treatment has forced Pakistan to seriously rethink its participation,” added the source.
Earlier, PCB chairman Naqvi had criticised ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup over their demands of shifting their matches from India to Sri Lanka. Naqvi, however, maintained any decision regarding Pakistan’s participation in the tournament will depend on the country’s government.
Will Pakistan boycott match against India in T20 World Cup 2026?
As per a report in Geo News, the Pakistan Cricket Board is also reportedly mulling the possibility of boycotting their marquee clash against arch-rivals India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. India and Pakistan are scheduled to lock horns against each other in a much-awaited clash on February 15.
However, PCB is reportedly considering boycotting the match to register its protest against the ICC. Pakistan are scheduled to play all of their matches in Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan will not travel to India for the tournament, having signed an agreement with the BCCI last year, which allows both teams to play their matches at neutral venues.