The International Cricket Council (ICC) is trying its best to organize the T20 World Cup 2026 as per schedule. But Pakistan’s decision to boycott their match against India has put the entire cricket ecosystem in a dilemma.
According to RevSportz, the council has asked its vice-chairman Imran Khawaja to communicate with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to convince Pakistan to follow the fixtures properly. Khawaja, who is also the representative of Singapore Cricket, is in charge of developing a fruitful discussion with the PCB with a view to conducting this high-profile tournament without any hassles.
PCB’s silence increases uncertainty ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
The Pakistan government said through its official social media platform on Sunday that the men’s national cricket team will participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 as per schedule, but will not take the field against India in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 15.
The government’s announcement was made on Sunday and today is 4th February and till now there has been no clear voice from the PCB regarding this matter. As full-time members, they are responsible for maintaining relations with the Council regarding their stance. But there does not appear to be any effort on Naqvi’s part to formally inform the ICC about the boycott.
What will PCB do next?
Will PCB formally inform ICC? In response, there are several contradictory reports floating around on the internet. Some claim that the board will remain silent leaving the council under suspension. While some other reports say that PCB may make some announcements within the next 48 hours. According to such claims, the next two days are going to be very important.
The ICC had a dispute with Bangladesh, where the PCB had nothing to do with. But he forcefully involved himself in the matter soon after the ICC pulled the Bangladesh cricket team out of the tournament. It is believed that the PCB and the government are staging a ‘boycott’ only to show support to Bangladesh, which is their friendly nation on the political map.
Although Pakistan may soon take a U-turn
The situation may change drastically in the near future as Bangladesh heads towards general elections, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 match on February 15. The vote in Bangladesh could influence Naqvi’s stance ahead of the match with India, as he is not only the PCB chief but also the interior minister. General elections in Bangladesh will be held on 12 February.
A source close to the PCB claimed to the media, “More than a cricket administrator, Naqvi is a politician who is not at all concerned about the welfare of the national team. He is trying to take advantage and may turn the tables after the elections on February 12. There are still two days left for the match against India and things may change. Otherwise, he knows that Pakistan can be eliminated.”
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