Pakistan could reconsider its participation in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup if Bangladesh’s standoff over travelling to India remains unresolved, adding a fresh twist to an already delicate situation. According to reports, Dhaka has approached Islamabad seeking diplomatic and cricketing backing after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to play its World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns.
“The Bangladesh government contacted officials in Pakistan to seek support regarding their participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup and received a positive response,” a source revealed. “Pakistan has indicated that it may rethink its own participation if Bangladesh’s concerns are not adequately addressed.”
This development significantly raises the pressure on the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has been working behind the scenes to prevent the issue from escalating. The 2026 T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Political shifts have played a key role in reshaping regional dynamics. Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have improved since last August’s political upheaval in Dhaka, which led to the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina later fled to India, and Bangladesh’s repeated requests for her extradition have reportedly gone unanswered, further straining ties between New Delhi and Dhaka.
Cricketing ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have also strengthened in recent months. During last year’s Asia Cup, both boards worked closely together, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi receiving strong backing from BCB president Aminul Islam. Naqvi later reciprocated by supporting Bangladesh’s call for an Asian Cricket Council meeting ahead of the tournament.
The current impasse began when Bangladesh refused to send its team to India for the T20 World Cup, despite an ICC-commissioned security assessment reportedly finding no specific threats. After discussions with the ICC on Saturday, the BCB issued a statement saying it would “continue engaging in constructive dialogue,” though it stopped short of reversing its stance.
Tensions between India and Bangladesh have continued to simmer. The situation intensified after IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. While no official reason was provided, the move was widely seen as a reflection of deteriorating bilateral relations. In response, the Bangladesh government reportedly banned IPL broadcasts in the country.
Soon after, the BCB formally informed the ICC that it would not play any World Cup matches in India, a position it has maintained since.
With Pakistan now signalling solidarity with Bangladesh, the ICC faces growing urgency to broker a solution. Any potential boycott involving two Full Member nations would pose an unprecedented challenge to global cricket’s flagship T20 event.
For now, uncertainty looms large, and the clock is ticking as the tournament’s future scheduling hangs in the balance.
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