PCB mulls boycott of India clash as Bangladesh row rocks T20 World Cup
PCB mulls boycott of India clash as Bangladesh row rocks T20 World Cup
Pakistan weighs pulling out of the India game at the T20 World Cup in Colombo in solidarity with Bangladesh, as final participation decisions loom.
Pakistan is delaying its decision on participating in the men's T20 World Cup, keeping the matter open until at least Friday. Discussions include a potential boycott of the high-profile India match in Colombo to show support for Bangladesh, which was removed from the tournament. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the PCB to explore all options.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the final call would be taken either on Friday or next Monday after a meeting with the prime minister in Islamabad. He noted that the discussion covered the ICC matter in detail and that all options would remain on the table.
Bangladesh were ousted from the tournament and replaced by Scotland after they sought to shift matches to Sri Lanka due to security concerns in India, which the ICC rejected. Pakistan are set to begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo and are also scheduled to play the USA.
The prime minister reportedly asked the PCB chief to extend all possible support to Bangladesh. The exit came amid security concerns cited by Bangladesh’s government, with the ICC confirming the replacement. Harbhajan Singh criticized Pakistan’s stance, calling it an attempt to frame a 2-vs-1 narrative, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board accepted the ICC call and bowed out.
If Pakistan pursues a boycott of the India match, it would add a new layer of complexity to a tournament already reshaped by Bangladesh’s removal and Scotland’s inclusion, with fans watching closely to see how the PCB balances diplomacy, politics, and cricket.
