ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Mohsin Naqvi’s Pakistan is likely to consider its participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as solidarity with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Pakistani media outlets have confirmed that Islamabad views the stance taken by Bangladesh as legitimate. Pakistani authorities have remarked that they fully respect Bangladesh’s security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board said it will continuously monitor the situation to make sure India does not exert any kind of undue influence on the BCB.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026-The Roots of The Dispute
BCB decided not to participate in any matches to be held in India after the abrupt termination of the IPL contract of Mustafizur Rahman with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
BCB requested the ICC to consider shifting its matches to co-host Sri Lanka but the ICC refused to give in.
Recently, a high-level ICC delegation including Andrew Ephgrave, General Manager of the Integrity Unit visited Dhaka while Gaurav Saxena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, joined the meeting virtually after he failed to secure a Bangladesh visa. However, the BCB remained firm and now the ICC has given Bangladesh time till January 21 to confirm its participation to play in India.
Pakistan is slated to open its campaign against the Netherlands on February 6, USA on February in Colombo, India on February 15 in Colombo and Namibia on February 18. All matches of Pakistan would be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Agreed To Host Bangladesh Matches
PCB expressed its willingness to host the matches of Bangladesh for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh even tried to swap its matches with Ireland that outrightly rejected the idea. The ICC has rejected this suggestion.
It is speculated that the International Cricket Council (ICC) may consider Scotland as the likely replacement team if Bangladesh decides not to send its cricket team to India.
England Foreign Travel Advisory
In another development, the United Kingdom government had issued a foreign travel advisory that terrorist attacks are very likely in India. The advisory said terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Naxalites, Daesh and Al Qa’ida may plan attacks. However, the England cricket team would travel for the World Cup in India. A strict midnight curfew has been imposed on the players by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
