After Bangladesh, Pakistan threatened to boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 as well. (Image X @samirwxr1)
New Delhi: Less than two weeks remain until the start of the T20 World Cup 2026, but the drama between Bangladesh and Pakistan has reached its peak. First, Bangladesh refused to play their matches in India, and then Pakistan entered the fray. Now, after the ICC disqualified Bangladesh from the World Cup, Pakistan also tried to be defiant against the ICC. Pakistan threatened to boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 as well. But an ultimatum from the ICC brought Pakistan back in line.
The tension escalated after Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from the IPL. Following this incident, Bangladesh wrote a letter to the ICC demanding that their matches scheduled to be played in India be shifted to Sri Lanka. Pakistan fueled this controversy, instigating Bangladesh. However, their efforts failed, and the ICC disqualified Bangladesh.
Following this, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticized the ICC, making several accusations and even threatening a World Cup boycott. The ICC then sent a strong message to bring Pakistan back in line.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) was angered by Mohsin Naqvi's statements. The ICC made it clear that if Pakistan also decides not to participate in the T20 World Cup, like Bangladesh, the ICC could take strict action against them.
According to sources, the ICC decided that if Pakistan withdraws from the tournament, several sanctions could be imposed. These included a ban on all bilateral cricket series with Pakistan, denying NOCs to foreign players for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and exclusion from the Asia Cup.
This tough stance from the ICC deflated Pakistan's defiance. And the very next day, on Sunday, Pakistan announced its team for the World Cup. Earlier, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had accused the ICC of adopting a 'double standard'. He had said that an injustice had been done to Bangladesh.
A total of 20 teams will participate in the T20 World Cup 2026. Each team will play four group matches, followed by the Super-8 and knockout stages. The tournament will run from February 7 to March 8. Before the World Cup, the Pakistani team will play a three-match T20 series against Australia, with the matches taking place in Lahore on January 29, January 31, and February 1.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where they are placed in Group A and scheduled to face Netherlands in their opening game on 7 February in Colombo.
The names were unveiled during a press conference addressed by the PCB Director High Performance and member men’s national selection committee Aqib Javed, Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday morning.
Among the players, skipper Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq have received their maiden mega-event call-ups to the Pakistan squad.
Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Usman Khan have played in at least one or more editions of the tournament since 2021.
Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), and Usman Tariq.
In the 20-team tournament, each team is set to play four group games before the Super Eight and Knockout Stage, all between 7 February and 8 March.
Pakistan are also set to face Australia in a three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 29, 31 January and 1 February with the preparation camp starting on Sunday.
February 7, 2026. vs Netherlands
February 10, 2026. vs USA
February 15, 2026. vs India
February 18, 2026. vs Namibia
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