 "Pakistan may skip India clash at T20 World Cup after Bangladesh row: Report")
Pakistan could take a drastic step ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, with reports from the country claiming that the team may even avoid playing against India in the tournament. According to a report by Pakistani media outlet Daily Ausaf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering strong options in response to what it sees as unfair treatment of Bangladesh by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The report states that an important decision on Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup is expected soon. The PCB is likely to seek permission from the Pakistani government before confirming whether the national team will take part in the tournament. A key meeting is expected between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, where the option of skipping the high-profile match against India or even withdrawing from the World Cup could be discussed.
According to the news outlet, Pakistan is unhappy with the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup after they refused to play matches in India due to security concerns. The report claims that Pakistan sees this as unfair behaviour and double standards from the ICC, especially when hybrid models have been allowed for India and Pakistan in the past.
PCB continues its preparations for T20 World Cup
The PCB, on the other hand, has unveiled Pakistan's squad for the T20 World Cup. The report further claims that he recently met players of the Pakistan national team and briefed them about the board’s position on the issue. The players reportedly appreciated the PCB’s stance and expressed full support for the board’s decision. Naqvi had gone to wish the team luck before their T20I series against Australia.
Naqvi has already publicly supported Bangladesh and criticised the ICC’s decision. He had told reporters last week that he was waiting for the PM to return from his foreign visit to discuss the issue. “We will do what the government of Pakistan instructs us to do. The Prime Minister is not in the country right now. We will take a final decision after he returns,” Naqvi told reporters on Saturday.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) accepted the ICC’s decision and chose not to challenge it further. Bangladesh were officially replaced by Scotland on January 24, with Scotland joining Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy. Bangladesh had requested that their matches be moved to Sri Lanka, but talks with the ICC failed to reach a solution.
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