Mohsin Naqvi says govt to make ‘final’ call on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup participation

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday announced that the final decision regarding the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be made by the federal government.

With less than a month into the commencement of the 20-team mega event, the International Cricket Council (ICC) reportedly replaced Bangladesh with Scotland earlier today following the former’s refusal to travel to India.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made the decision earlier this month, following the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) release of experienced Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, at the directives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The two parties were then involved in several negotiations, but a settlement could not be reached, and the ICC, earlier this week, formally announced dismissing BCB’s plea by asserting that the tournament’s schedule would remain intact and gave it a 24-hour ultimatum.

Amid the ongoing ICC-BCB standoff, sources emerged that 2009 champions Pakistan may also boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 if Bangladesh opt to withdraw.

Meanwhile, addressing the media here today, PCB chairman Naqvi said the cricket board will take the decision in line with the Government of Pakistan’s direction.

“Prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif] is currently not in the country. We will announce the final decision after he [PM] returns to the country,” Naqvi said while responding to a question related to what would be Pakistan’s stance on ICC decision regarding Bangladesh.

He further stressed that Bangladesh were treated unfairly by the apex body, which he slammed for having “double standards”.

“Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. I said the same in the board meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC). You cannot have double standards, where one country can make whatever decision whenever and do the total opposite for another country,” Naqvi continued.

“That is why we have taken the stand that Bangladesh is being treated unfairly and should be allowed to play the World Cup in any case. They are a major stakeholder, and this injustice should not be done,” he added.

Naqvi further called out BCCI’s influence in ICC’s decision-making, stating “one country cannot dictate another” and warned Pakistan would take a stance if the dictation was attempted.

“The thing is that Bangladesh is the same member as Pakistan. And our stance is that if you have done this favour with Pakistan and India, then you should do the same with Bangladesh,” he said.

“The main reason for this is that one country cannot dictate another. And if this dictation is attempted, then Pakistan definitely has its own stance,” he said.