Pakistan’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup appears to have begun after days of internal debate, with the team already booked a trip to Sri Lanka alongside Australia.
Despite earlier rumors of a possible boycott, sources say the Pakistan team will fly from Lahore to Colombo via SriLankan Airlines on Monday. The booking with the Australian team has been made and there are clear signs that preparations are progressing.
The final call is expected on Friday, when PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is likely to formally approve Pakistan’s participation. Senior officials remain confident that the matter will be resolved well before the team leaves for the tournament.
The doubts started after Bangladesh were removed from the World Cup following the ICC’s rejection of the BCB request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. Naqvi had raised the idea of a boycott in protest and in support of Bangladesh.
Since then, the PCB chairman has held extensive consultations. He spoke to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, President Asif Zardari and senior figures from the military establishment to understand the broader view on the issue.
Naqvi also met former PCB chairmen Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja. Both supported the idea of playing the tournament in Sri Lanka and advised against boycotting the high-profile match in India.
“Despite the uncertainty surrounding their participation in the World Cup, the Pakistan team has been booked with the Australian team to fly to Colombo from Lahore via an Air Lanka flight.”
“We hope that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi will have approved the team’s participation in the mega event by Friday.”
“Naqvi also sought advice from President Asif Zardari and the military establishment before meeting two former PCB chairmen Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja, who were also in favor of sending the team to Sri Lanka. They have also been advised not to boycott the India game.”
In the locker room, the players have been asked to remain focused and positive as the planning continues. The uncertainty has not stopped the team from preparing for a long period abroad.
“All players have been told to remain positive about participating in the World Cup. A number of players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have brought all their luggage from home, bearing in mind that they will be out of the country for over a month.”
Pakistan also has cricket commitments before the World Cup begins. A three-match T20I series against Australia begins in Lahore on Thursday, giving the team valuable game time ahead of the global event.
With the political, military and cricket votes now aligned, Pakistan looks set to fully participate in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, including the much-awaited showdown against India.
#Pakistans #T20 #World #Cup #itinerary #shape #ICC #dispute