Govt to decide whether Pakistan will play T20 World Cup 2026: Mohsin Naqvi

Pakistan’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is reportedly uncertain after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that the final decision would rest with the government, amid escalating geopolitical tensions. The development comes after Pakistan backed Bangladesh’s refusal to play matches in India, a stance that ultimately led to the ICC replacing Bangladesh with Scotland for the marquee tournament scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision, backed by its government, not travel to India citing security concerns, led to immense controversy. At the ICC Board meeting on January 21, Bangladesh’s request to relocate its matches out of India was rejected. Notably, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was the only member among the 15 present to support BCB’s position. Despite being given a 24-hour deadline to reconsider, the BCB held on to their decision, leading the ICC to replace Bangladesh with Scotland.

“We are waiting for the prime minister to return. Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. I said the same in the board meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC). You cannot have double standards, where one country can make whatever decision whenever and do the total opposite for another country. That is why we have taken the stand that Bangladesh is being treated unfairly and should be allowed to play the World Cup in any case. They are a major stakeholder, and this injustice should not be done. The thing is that Bangladesh is the same member as Pakistan. And our stance is that if you have done this favour with Pakistan and India, then you should do the same with Bangladesh. The main reason for this is that one country cannot dictate to another. And if this dictation is attempted, then Pakistan definitely has its own stance,” he said while speaking to reporters in Lahore as quoted by Dawn.

Meanwhile, Naqvi’s comments indicate that Pakistan could follow a similar route if the political situation continues to deteriorate. The PCB’s support for Bangladesh was communicated to the ICC in a formal letter, copied to all Board members, citing political turmoil in the neighbourhood as a reason for concern.

Scotland to replace Bangladesh in Group C

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta formally informed Board members that Bangladesh’s demands violated tournament policy and risked setting a dangerous precedent. The governing body repeated that security assessments in India indicated a moderate to low threat level, a claim disputed by the BCB. Ultimately, the ICC chose to protect the sanctity of the World Cup and issued Scotland a formal invitation based on their consistent performances in recent ICC events.

Scotland’s inclusion sees them slotted into Group C, where they will face West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal across venues in Kolkata and Mumbai. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has been left out entirely, recording one of the most dramatic exclusions in World Cup history.

The episode has also triggered memories of the Asia Cup 2025 row. With India and Pakistan reluctant to travel to each other’s countries, the tournament led to a hybrid model. The competition even saw India choosing a 'no-handshake' stance against the Pakistan team.