The fallout from Bangladesh’s removal from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues to ripple through global cricket, with Pakistan now considering its own participation in protest. Speaking at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that the country’s next move would reflect its solidarity with Bangladesh — and that the final decision rests not with the board, but with the government.
Pakistan awaits Prime Minister’s return before making final call
Naqvi emphasized that the PCB will not act independently when it comes to Pakistan’s participation in the tournament. All decisions, he said, will follow official instructions from the government.
“I will follow the instructions of the government of Pakistan. The Prime Minister is not in Pakistan at the moment. We will give you a final decision when he returns,” he told reporters in Lahore.
He added that the board operates under national directives: “We are more under the Government of Pakistan than the ICC, so we have to do what the government of Pakistan says.”
Naqvi stated that if the government instructs Pakistan not to participate, the ICC should be prepared to replace them in the tournament lineup. “Look, if the government of Pakistan says that they don’t want to play, then they [the ICC] can bring the 22nd team. But this decision has to be taken by the government of Pakistan. This is what the government of Pakistan has to say, whether they make a final decision,” he explained.
ICC’s decision on Bangladesh triggers Pakistan’s reaction
The PCB’s uncertain stance is rooted in its opposition to the ICC’s decision to exclude Bangladesh after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to play its group-stage matches in India. Naqvi, who participated in recent ICC board meetings, publicly called the move unjust.
“I think there has been injustice with Bangladesh, and I said the same in the ICC board meeting [on January 21]. You can’t have double standards. You can’t say that for one country you can make a decision whenever you want, and for another country you can make a totally opposite decision. That’s why we have taken this stand – there is injustice with Bangladesh,” he said.
Naqvi reaffirmed that Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh was raised in official ICC discussions. “This I maintained in Wednesday’s meeting as well and their stance has many factors which I will tell when the situation arrives,” he added.
He further stated that Bangladesh should never have been removed from the tournament and that the ICC’s action undermined fairness in global cricket. “Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. They are a major stakeholder. This kind of injustice should not happen, and Bangladesh should be allowed to play the World Cup in any case,” he told reporters.
As a full member of the ICC, Naqvi argued, Bangladesh deserves the same flexibility and treatment as other nations. “Bangladesh is the same member as Pakistan,” he said.
Contingency plans are in place, but clarity will come from the top
While the PCB has not yet made any formal move, Naqvi confirmed that multiple pathways have been discussed internally to deal with different possible outcomes.
“We are waiting for the prime minister to return. Once that happens, a final decision will be taken,” he said.
Responding to speculation over whether Pakistan would escalate the matter further if the ICC does not reverse its stance on Bangladesh, Naqvi remained cautious. “Let the decision come first,” he replied to reporters.
At the same time, he noted that the PCB is preparing for all possibilities. “We have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and even Plan D,” he stated.
Former Indian cricketer criticises PCB’s approach
Naqvi’s public defense of Bangladesh and threat to withdraw from the tournament was met with sharp criticism in India. Former cricketer Atul Wassan described the PCB chairman’s statements as politically motivated and damaging to players.
“I think this is just a bravado, and it’s foolish bravado at best to just eyeball ICC and blackmail the whole cricketing world order. I think what they are doing now is just using cricket and their collateral damage players. Who will face the collateral damage? Players will suffer. They don’t know anything because they are political capital, so their work will go on. You made a cricket issue and raised your moustache. Because they think that it will be a big brownie point for them see that we have supported Bangladesh,” Wassan told ANI.
As the tournament approaches, the spotlight remains on Pakistan’s pending decision. While the ICC has confirmed that Scotland will replace Bangladesh, Pakistan’s own participation — a potential show of solidarity — still awaits a formal stance from the government in Islamabad.
