- By Gurmeet Batra
- Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan Threaten T20 World Cup Boycott: The Pakistan men's cricket team is considering withdrawing from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, mentioning unfair treatment of Bangladesh by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
According to a news report in Geo News, Pakistan's participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 hangs in the balance as the team considers withdrawing.
As per Geo News, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are reportedly considering boycotting their group-stage match against India on February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh.
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The decision follows Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India for their Group C matches, noting "security concerns", which the ICC considered groundless. Scotland, ranked 14th in T20Is, was later named as Bangladesh's replacement in the marquee tournament.
A final decision on Pakistan's T20 World Cup plan is anticipated after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad on Monday, with the team's withdrawal hanging in the balance.
“The final decision rests with the prime minister, but early indications suggest that the government may not allow Pakistan to participate in the T20 World Cup," a senior government source was quoted as saying by Geo News on Monday.
“This is not just about cricket; it is about principles. Bangladesh has been deprived of its legitimate right, and the ICC’s stepmotherly treatment has forced Pakistan to seriously rethink its participation," he added.
“There cannot be dual standards in international sports. On one hand, India enjoys the liberty to choose venues at will, while on the other, countries like Bangladesh are denied venue changes despite citing security concerns. If the ICC truly wants cricket to thrive as a global sport, such selective policies must end," the source said.