Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has revealed that the decision on the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be made by next week.
Naqvi confirmed that the matter is now firmly in the government’s hands, following a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
While nothing has been signed off on yet, the direction is clear. A final call is likely by Friday, or at the very latest, next Monday.
What Came Out of the PM Meeting?
After what he described as a “productive meeting” with the prime minister, Naqvi took to X to shed light on where things stand.
He said the ICC issue was discussed in detail and that the government wants all options kept on the table. Crucially, both sides agreed that a final decision would be taken either by the end of this week or early next week.
“Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,” Naqvi wrote.
“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.”
Pakistan open their T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7. If the PCB waits until next Monday, it leaves just four days between the decision and the tournament opener. In World Cup terms, that is cutting it dangerously close.
Why This Situation Escalated?
The current uncertainty stems from the ICC’s recent decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after Bangladesh refused to travel to India, citing security concerns.
That ruling sent shockwaves through the region. The PCB publicly backed Bangladesh during the dispute, and since then, speculation around Pakistan’s own participation has grown louder.
Naqvi added fuel to that speculation over the weekend when he openly stated that the final call would be made by the federal government, not the board.
Is a Full Boycott the Only Option?
While the word boycott keeps doing the rounds, it is understood that the PCB is exploring multiple scenarios. One of the ideas being discussed is a more targeted response, such as refusing to play the high-profile match against India on February 15 in Colombo.
That game is the biggest fixture of the group stage, both commercially and politically. Sitting it out would send a strong message without completely pulling out of the tournament.
Still, even that option would come with consequences, and the ICC is unlikely to take it lightly.
Group Stage Plans, For Now
As things stand, Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside India, the Netherlands, the USA and Namibia. All of Pakistan’s group matches are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka under the hybrid model.
Their schedule begins with the Netherlands on February 7, followed by the USA on February 10. The clash against India is set for February 15, before Pakistan wrap up the T20 World Cup group stage against Namibia on February 18.
If Pakistan make it to the semi-finals and final, both matches will be held in Colombo. Otherwise, the remaining knockout games will be staged in Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
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