ISLAMABAD: The players of Pakistan’s cricket team on Sunday affirmed their full support for the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) principled stance regarding participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi held a meeting with the players and briefed them on the board’s position regarding the T20 World Cup after the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the mega event.
The players lauded the PCB chairman for his principled stance in the ongoing dispute between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has removed Bangladesh from the men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka and named Scotland as their replacement.
Bangladesh had earlier requested that their fixtures be moved out of India, but the ICC rejected the plea, stating there was no “credible or verifiable” security threat.
However, Naqvi criticised the decision, calling it a reflection of the ICC’s double standards, and emphasised that the PCB would adhere to government directives regarding participation in the tournament.
He added that Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh is guided by cricket’s core principles and warned against any political interference in the sport. “Politics-laden cricket is in nobody’s interest; everyone must operate according to cricket’s principles,” he said.
Meanwhile, Naqvi extended his best wishes to the team ahead of the T20I series against Australia, highlighting the importance of teamwork in achieving success.
He said the national players are highly talented and capable of competing at every level, adding that fans are expecting strong performances in the upcoming series.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, head coach Mike Hesson, PCB’s chief operating officer, director of media, director of commercial operations, and the team manager.
