Mumbai:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed its final decision on whether the national team will participate in next month’s T20 World Cup, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday. Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day to seek guidance on the issue, following which expectations were that a call would be taken immediately. However, the PCB chief later clarified that the decision has been deferred.
“The final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday,” Naqvi wrote in a post on X after briefing the Prime Minister on the situation.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, said the Prime Minister advised the board to keep all options open while resolving the matter.
Pakistan unlikely to withdraw fully, ICC eyes Bangladesh as replacement
Despite the delay, Pakistan is unlikely to pull out of the entire tournament, according to an official familiar with the developments. The International Cricket Council (ICC), however, is prepared with a contingency plan.
“If Pakistan decide to withdraw, Bangladesh would be asked to replace them in Group A and play all their matches in Sri Lanka, as per the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s original request,” the official told Hindustan Times. “This arrangement would pose limited logistical challenges.”
Such a scenario would allow the ICC to maintain that it is not conceding to Bangladesh’s security concerns about playing in India, but merely responding to Pakistan’s withdrawal.
Earlier, on January 24, the ICC had already replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in Group C after the BCB refused to play its matches in India citing security issues.
PCB lacks strong grounds to withdraw
One of the key reasons behind PCB’s hesitation is the absence of a strong justification for withdrawal. While Pakistan had supported Bangladesh’s demand to shift matches out of India, the proposal was voted down by the ICC Board.
This has left the PCB with limited leverage and exposed to potential sanctions should it choose to pull out without valid grounds.
Boycott of India match among options being considered
According to reports in Pakistan media, one of the strongest options being discussed is boycotting the high-profile Group A match against India, scheduled to be played in Colombo on February 15. In such a case, Pakistan would forfeit the points.
However, this move could have serious consequences. The India-Pakistan clash is the tournament’s biggest draw and a major revenue generator for broadcasters and sponsors.
An ICC official cautioned that the PCB could face repercussions depending on the reasoning it offers.
“It was on PCB’s insistence that the hybrid model was finalised between the Indian and Pakistani boards. Refusing to play would amount to violating an agreement they themselves pushed for,” the official said.
Other protest options: black armbands
Apart from a boycott, the PCB is also considering symbolic protests, including players wearing black armbands during matches.
BCCI reacts, accuses Pakistan of provoking Bangladesh
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued its first official reaction on Monday. Vice-president Rajiv Shukla said the situation was being unnecessarily complicated.
“We wanted Bangladesh to play and also assured full security. Since they took this decision, it became impossible to change the entire schedule at the last moment. That’s why Scotland was brought in,” Shukla told ANI.
He further accused Pakistan of interfering.
“Pakistan is intervening in the matter without any reason and provoking Bangladesh. Everyone knows the brutality committed by Pakistan against Bangladeshis, and now they are trying to mislead them. This is completely wrong,” he said.
Decision expected by end of week
For now, the PCB has reiterated that a final call will be taken by Friday or next Monday, keeping the cricketing world on edge as political, security, and commercial stakes continue to collide ahead of the T20 World Cup.