United News of Bangladesh

The crisis surrounding the 2026 T20 World Cup has escalated further, with reports emerging that Pakistan is seriously considering boycotting its blockbuster group-stage match against arch-rivals India. The move is being weighed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a major protest against the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland. According to sources, the PCB is reviewing various options to register its dissent, including refusing to take the field for the high-stakes encounter scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. Insiders suggest the board calculates that forfeiting the match—and the associated two points—would be a manageable sporting loss compared to the massive financial and reputational blow a boycott of the tournament's most lucrative fixture would deal to the ICC. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is scheduled to meet the national squad today, slammed the global body for its handling of the situation. He accused the ICC of “double standards” for stripping Bangladesh of its spot while accommodating India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for other events. “You cannot have double standards, where one country can make whatever decision whenever and do the total opposite for another country,” Naqvi said. Naqvi also took a veiled dig at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), saying, “One country cannot dictate another. And if this dictation is attempted, then Pakistan definitely has its own stance.” The final decision, however, rests with the federal government of Pakistan. Naqvi confirmed that the board will announce its official stance once Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns to the country.  Pakistan is currently scheduled to open its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7.