Pakistan Will Not Boycott T20 World Cup After Bangladesh Row

  • Publish date: since 7 hours Reading time: two min read

PCB affirms participation in global event even as Bangladesh’s potential withdrawal raises tensions ahead of February’s tournament.

Pakistan has rejected claims it would boycott the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 despite the ongoing dispute involving neighboring Bangladesh over tournament arrangements, officials confirmed on Monday, January 19.

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The global event is scheduled to begin on 7 February 2026 with co-hosts India and Sri Lanka staging matches across multiple cities. Speculation had circulated that Pakistan might pull out in solidarity with Bangladesh, whose cricket board has expressed uncertainty about travelling to India due to security concerns tied to the treatment of its players.

However, a source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told RevSportz that the board’s position remains firm: “Nope, this is not the PCB’s stand.” Pakistan officials stressed that the team will participate in the tournament and has no basis to withdraw, noting that their scheduled matches will be played in Sri Lanka rather than India.

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The comments follow earlier reports that the PCB had paused preparations and reminded its management to prepare contingency plans should the board reassess its position. Nonetheless, the PCB source clarified there is no official intention to boycott the World Cup at this stage.

Despite its stance, Pakistan has publicly expressed full support for Bangladesh’s concerns, describing Dhaka’s security worries as reasonable and valid while emphasising the importance of fair treatment for all teams. Bangladesh’s request to relocate some of its matches out of India, potentially to neutral venues such as Sri Lanka, remains under discussion with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

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The dispute began after Bangladeshi cricketers and officials voiced discomfort about playing in India in the aftermath of a controversial removal of their fast bowler from the Indian Premier League (IPL), stoking diplomatic and sporting tensions ahead of the marquee tournament.

With less than a month to go before the T20 World Cup opener, stakeholders are watching closely as the ICC continues to engage with all parties to ensure that the competition proceeds smoothly while addressing the concerns raised by Bangladesh and supported by Pakistan.