Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has halted their team preparations after announcing its support for Bangladesh`s decision to boycott playing matches in India, according to Geo News.
So far, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has not issued any statement confirming this report.
Earlier, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 following directions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amid ongoing minority atrocities in Bangladesh.
Following Rahman`s exclusion, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested ICC to move all of its T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India, citing security and safety concerns of their players.
PCB stated that Bangladesh`s concerns are reasonable and valid, and extended its support to BCB.
According to the Islamabad-based Geo News, the Pakistan management has been asked to prepare a plan in case the team decides to not participate in the marquee tournament. Pakistan, the media outlet reported, has further said that it will reconsider its participation in the T20 World Cup if the Bangladesh issue remains unresolved.
According to an ICC source, the board has asked BCB to finalise its decision or risk removal from the tournament. If BCB refuses to send its team to India, the ICC is likely to name a replacement, and, as per the current rankings, it could be Scotland.
T20 World Cup 2026: Group A and C teams
Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan has been placed in Group A along with India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States of America.
Bangladesh has been placed in Group C along with England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies.
The team is set to open its global showpiece tournament against the West Indies on February 7 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The “Green Shirts” will also begin their campaign on the same date by facing the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. The high-octane clash between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, is scheduled to be played on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
(With ANI Inputs)
