KEY POINTS
- Pakistan will finalise its decision on participating in the 2026 T20 World Cup by this Friday or next Monday.
- The timeline follows a meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
- PM Sharif directed resolution of the ICC matter with “all options on the table.”
- The decision comes amid Pakistan’s potential boycott following the ICC-BCB dispute over tournament scheduling.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will decide whether its national team will participate in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by this Friday or next Monday. The timeline was set after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday.
Naqvi, who also serves as the country’s Interior Minister, described a meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif as “productive.” He stated that the Prime Minister was briefed on the ongoing issue with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and directed that the matter be resolved with “all options on the table.”
Prime Minister’s directive and upcoming timeline for T20 world Cup
In a post on social media platform X, the PCB chairman outlined the outcome of the high-level consultation. “Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table,” Naqvi wrote.
Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday. pic.twitter.com/6SOvNdLceW
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) January 26, 2026
He further specified the agreed timeline, adding, “It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday.” This sets a clear deadline for resolving the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s involvement in the global tournament.
Background: ICC-BCB dispute sparks contingency plans
The situation arose following the ICC’s decision last week to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the 2026 tournament lineup. This came after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to tour India for the event, a stance it adopted following an incident involving the release of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from his Indian Premier League franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders, reportedly at the behest of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Despite negotiations, the ICC dismissed the BCB’s plea to reconsider the schedule, leading to a formal standoff. Amid this dispute, reports emerged suggesting that Pakistan, the 2009 champions, was considering a potential boycott in solidarity or protest, placing its own participation in doubt.
Given these circumstances, the choice made by Pakistan’s cricket board and government will weigh heavily on the sport’s global framework.
