Amidst a looming International Cricket Council (ICC) ultimatum for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) over its disagreement to play the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly thrown its weight behind the Tigers. According to a report, the PCB has sent a letter to the international cricket body expressing solidarity with Bangladesh.
For the unversed, Bangladesh are slated to play all four of their group-stage matches in India, with the first three scheduled in Kolkata and the remaining one in Mumbai. However, the BCB, supported by its government, has remained adamant and sought a shift of its matches to co-hosts Sri Lanka. This is seen as a direct repercussion of IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders' decision to let go of Mustafizur Rahman from their squad following politically charged protests.
Bangladesh international Mustafizur shouldn't be permitted to represent KKR after targeted attacks on minority Hindus were reported in Bangladesh, protestors had claimed. KKR conceded to the pressure and let the seamer leave, which resulted in the BCB raising security concerns as a reason for wanting to avoid travel to India—an obvious retaliatory move.
The BCB has recommended switching groups with Ireland, which would let them complete their group stages in Sri Lanka instead. However, the ICC categorically told the Asian team, which has never lifted the World Cup despite a great fan following, that they should either travel to India or make way for Scotland—the next highest-ranking side.
The ICC Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to take a final call on Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup, including whether the team will travel to India for the tournament starting February 7.
It is at this juncture that the PCB has entered the arena to support the BCB. On the eve of the ICC meeting, the PCB wrote to the global body stating that it supports the BCB's stance, citing political instability in the region, and has copied all ICC Board members on the letter, according to ESPNcricinfo. The PCB has not made any public comment on the matter, although Board sources have said that the Bangladesh government had contacted Pakistan for support in the ICC.
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"There were unverified reports that the PCB had offered to stage Bangladesh's games in Pakistan and, more dramatically, that the PCB was reviewing Pakistan's participation in the World Cup, contingent on what happens with Bangladesh. The timing of the PCB email could raise eyebrows, but it is understood that it will not impact the ICC's stance so far..." the ESPNcricinfo report said.
Pakistan will be playing all their matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreement with the BCCI and ICC until 2027.
