Uncertainty over Pakistan participation in T20 World Cup, India match boycott under consideration

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan on Monday said it has postponed its final decision on participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The matter will remain open at least until Friday or next Monday. The delay comes amid discussions over a possible boycott of the match against co-host India and support for Bangladesh.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. During the meeting, the current situation related to the ICC and possible options were discussed in detail.

Naqvi shared on social media that the Prime Minister advised taking a balanced decision after reviewing all available options. It was agreed that the final call would be taken on Friday or next Monday.

As per agency reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked the PCB to extend full support to Bangladesh. Bangladesh has been removed from the tournament and replaced by Scotland. Bangladesh had demanded that its matches be held in Sri Lanka instead of India, citing security concerns, but the ICC rejected the request.

The report stated that Pakistan has been presented with two main options—

– Complete withdrawal from the T20 World Cup

– Boycott of the match against India scheduled for 15 February

This step may be taken in support of Bangladesh cricket.

Government to take final decision

The PCB has already clarified that under the changed circumstances, the final decision on Pakistan’s participation will be taken by the federal government. The ICC has maintained that there are no security concerns in India.