Pakistan rubbish T20 World Cup boycott reports
Pakistan have reportedly ruled out T20 World Cup boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh amid the BCB's ongoing tussle with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
New Delhi: Pakistan have rubbished claims that they had halted preparations for the T20 World Cup and were considering boycotting the tournament in solidarity with Bangladesh amid their neighbour's ongoing tussle with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The Bangladesh Cricket Board's standoff with ICC has jeopardised the Bangla Tigers' participation in the marquee event starting in India and Sri Lanka on February 7.
ICC on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to BCB over the national team's participation in the mega-event in India. Bangladesh have asked the ICC to shift their venues from India, citing security reasons, but the world cricket body has rejected their request with a warning of the team's removal from the tournament if it refuses to travel to India.
Multiple reports suggested that Pakistan will also pull out from the tournament in support of Bangladesh, but a PCB source has refuted all the claims.
As per a report by RevSportz, Pakistan have clarified that they will not withdraw from the tournament even if Bangladesh boycott the event over security concerns in India.
A source close to PCB told RevSportz: "Nope, this is not the PCB’s stand."
The source explained that since Pakistan will play in Sri Lanka as per the pre-tournament agreement finalised last year after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, there are no grounds for the PCB to boycott the T20 WC.
"No grounds" to boycott T20 World Cup, says PCB
"Pakistan don’t have any grounds to do so, because the ICC would point out that Pakistan are already playing their matches in Sri Lanka. People just float such things to fire up the issue," the source further said.
Recently, Pakistani media outlet Geo News claimed that Bangladesh were in touch with Pakistan seeking diplomatic and cricketing support amid their standoff with the ICC.
The controversy erupted after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad following widespread anger over the brutal killings of the Hindu population in Bangladesh.
The move to axe Mustafizur didn't go down well with the BCB, who banned the broadcast of the IPL and formally wrote to the ICC to shift the team's T20 World Cup group from India. Bangladesh, placed in Group B, are scheduled to play their matches in Mumbai and Kolkata.
The ICC has reportedly issued a January 21 deadline for Bangladesh to decide whether they will send the team to India or risk removal from the tournament.