Daijiworld Media Network - Colombo
Colombo, Feb 8: The 2026 ICC T20 World Cup plunged into fresh uncertainty after Pakistan announced its decision to boycott the marquee clash against India scheduled for February 15, escalating an already tense standoff involving Bangladesh and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In an effort to defuse the situation, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul has travelled to Lahore for high-level talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Two senior ICC officials are also en route to Lahore for a joint meeting with the BCB and PCB, sources said.
The controversy began after Bangladesh, backed by its interim government, refused to send its team to India for group-stage matches, citing security concerns. The BCB formally requested that its fixtures be shifted to Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament. However, the ICC rejected the proposal following an independent security assessment that found no specific threat.
After Bangladesh missed the final participation deadline in late January, the ICC removed the team from the tournament and replaced them with Scotland in Group C.
In an unprecedented intervention, Pakistan has publicly backed Bangladesh. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that the national team has been directed to boycott the high-profile India match in Colombo. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi termed Bangladesh’s exclusion “unjust” and “politically motivated,” asserting that no cricket board should be compelled to play in a country it considers unsafe.
Sources said the Bulbul-Naqvi meeting is aimed at breaking the current deadlock, with both boards expected to present a united stance before ICC officials later in the day.
With the India-Pakistan encounter regarded as the tournament’s biggest commercial draw, the ICC is under intense pressure to find a solution without undermining the event’s credibility. The governing body has already warned the PCB that a boycott could invite severe sanctions, including hefty financial penalties, forfeiture of points, suspension of membership, and loss of future hosting rights.
ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta has also held discussions in Colombo with Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva, who had earlier urged the PCB to honour the fixture. The ICC has sought an explanation from Pakistan regarding the invocation of the ‘Force Majeure’ clause after the PCB attempted to shift responsibility to the government.
Despite the turmoil, ICC officials remain cautiously optimistic. According to a senior ICC director, the PCB has now approached the council for deliberations, raising hopes that the marquee India-Pakistan clash may eventually go ahead.