Pakistan Delays T20 World Cup Decision After PCB Chief Meets Prime Minister

New Delhi: Pakistan has not yet taken a final decision regarding playing in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, made it clear that the matter is still under consideration and all options are open. The final decision is expected by Friday or next Monday.

What did PCB say after meeting the Prime Minister?

Naqvi wrote on social media platform X that the meeting with the Prime Minister was positive. He gave information about the entire matter related to ICC and the Prime Minister directed that the decision should be taken keeping all the aspects in mind. Naqvi reiterated that the team cannot travel abroad without government approval.

Why is Pakistan angry with the removal of Bangladesh?

The main reason for Pakistan's anger is the decision of ICC, in which Bangladesh, which refused to come to India citing security reasons, was thrown out of the tournament and Scotland was included in its place.

It is being said that both PCB and the Pakistani government did not like this decision. Pakistan stood in support of Bangladesh on this issue and is dissatisfied with the ICC's stance.

Can Pakistan also leave the match against India?

According to reports, Pakistan is also seriously considering the option of not playing its group match against India. The match between India and Pakistan is scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, which has been kept as a neutral venue as per the agreement between PCB, BCCI and ICC.

According to this agreement, till 2027, the matches of both the countries are to be played at neutral venues only.

If the team is announced, will Pakistan play?

On Sunday, Pakistan announced a 15-member team under the captaincy of Salman Ali Aga, but Naqvi clearly said that this does not mean that Pakistan has decided to participate in the tournament.

He reiterated that especially for any tournament related to India, government's permission is necessary and the final decision will be taken by it.

What has ICC warned Pakistan about?

According to sources, ICC has warned Pakistan of serious consequences if it withdraws from the tournament. It is being said that if Pakistan boycotts, then the strictest sanctions to date can be imposed on it.

These may include steps like stopping the entry of foreign players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), drastically cutting the PCB's funding, excluding them from the Asia Cup, not playing bilateral series and ending the international support to the league.

Can Pakistan cricket suffer huge losses?

Cricket experts believe that if Pakistan retreats, its global credibility will suffer a major blow. This could lead to financial loss for PCB as well as the danger of being isolated from international cricket for a long time.

What will happen next?

At present the whole matter depends on the decision of the Pakistan government. The PCB is waiting for a signal from the government, while the ICC has given all teams a deadline of January 30 to submit their final squads. In such a situation, the coming few days are considered very important for the future of Pakistan cricket.