For all the solidarity Pakistan has shown Bangladesh in the ongoing T20 World Cup dilemma, it is unlikely the country’s cricket board will ever act accordingly. When Bangladesh and the Indian Cricket Board fell out, Pakistan tried to lend an alleged helping hand. They reportedly offered to host Bangladesh’s matches and even threatened to pull out of the tournament themselves.
But now that Bangladesh have already confirmed that they will not play in the T20 World Cup, Pakistan can perhaps breathe a sigh of relief. Was Pakistan ever going to boycott the T20 World Cup? Were they ever going to arrange separate places for Bangladesh? If so, why didn’t they once try to write things down officially?
PAKISTAN WILL COVER THE TAIL
If the reports are true, Pakistan was never going to postpone the trip to Sri Lanka where they play all their matches. PTI reported that Pakistan has already arranged their travel and they are scheduled to fly to Colombo early on February 2.
It makes sense that they never unofficially made the call for a boycott because they would have to take a big financial hit to cancel their plans.
“The PCB has already arranged the journey for the World Cup team to leave early morning on February 2 for Colombo,” a source told PTI on January 29.
In cricket, as in politics, the instinct of self-preservation comes first. Senior journalist Sharda Ugra said in a recent podcast that Pakistan playing or boycotting the T20 World Cup would be a government call. But the funny thing, she also pointed out that it was Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chief and Pakistan’s interior minister, apparently calling.
And Mohsin Naqvi knows well how to use his position and not traveling to the World Cup would mean damaging the relationship with the International Cricket Council, which Pakistan could not afford at this hour.
PAKISTAN TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT
It must be mentioned why Pakistan could never back out of the T20 World Cup and why the threats made were empty.
In 2025, the BCCI, PCB and ICC entered into a tripartite agreement whereby all matches between India and Pakistan at ICC events until 2027 would be played at neutral venues.
Since Pakistan’s entire World Cup schedule is in Sri Lanka, including the final, what reason could they have to boycott the tournament or the match against India?
“When PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, he made it clear that all options under consideration should ensure a stable and prosperous future for Pakistan cricket and maintain good relations with the ICC and member boards,” an insider told PTI.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The ICC has always maintained that India-Pakistan matches are the biggest draws in the tournament. So much so that they always make sure to design any global tournament so that both teams can play each other in the group stage and then move on.
With Pakistan falling out of favour, it is now less of a cricketing rivalry and more of a spinning viewership from the ICC to keep their coffers growing.
Last year, when the tension between the two countries was at its peak, they played against each other 3 times in the continental tournament. Wouldn’t it be a bit naive to think that Pakistan will miss out on a chance to rake in the big bucks from the global event? Especially when it’s not their fight?
The T20 World Cup is just a week away and one wonders when the drama will end and the cricket will finally begin.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
January 30, 2026
Tune in
