The uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation comes in the wake of the International Cricket Council (ICC) removing Bangladesh from the 20-team event after the latter refused to travel to India citing security concerns. Bangladesh was subsequently replaced by Scotland, a move that reportedly caused discontent within both the PCB and the Pakistani government.
“I had a productive meeting with Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. I briefed him on the ICC issue and he directed us to resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken on Friday or next Monday,” Naqvi wrote on X.
According to Geo News, Pakistan may still withdraw from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with sources suggesting that the ICC’s handling of Bangladesh’s case has not gone well in Islamabad. The report added that the central government could deny the men’s team permission to travel if concerns are not adequately addressed.
Pakistan is reportedly even considering skipping the group match against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. This is in line with an agreement between the PCB, BCCI and ICC, under which all matches between India and Pakistan until 2027 must be played at neutral venues.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty, Pakistan on Sunday named a 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup Salman Ali Agha lead the side. However, the PCB chairman made it clear that the team’s announcement should not be interpreted as a confirmation of participation. He emphasized that government permission is mandatory, especially for events involving India.
Naqvi has consistently maintained that the PCB will await the Pakistani government’s final position before taking a decision. The T20 World Cup will be held across India and Sri Lanka from February 7, and the ICC has set January 30 as the deadline for all participating countries to submit their final squads.
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