Shivam Dube Press Conference: On changing mindsets, reading bowlers and dominating the middle innings
Responding to the possibility of a boycott on Cricbuzz, Rahane dismissed the idea outright. “I don’t think they can do it, I don’t think they have, can I say the guts? Yeah, I don’t think they can,” Rahane said, adding bluntly: “They will come.” The backdrop of the controversy is Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament. The Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to play their matches in India and sought to shift the venue to Sri Lanka. The request was rejected by the ICC, after which Bangladesh maintained its position and was subsequently replaced by Scotland. Pakistan has framed its boycott threat as a stand against the removal of Bangladesh, but such a move could come at a high cost. According to a Cricbuzz report, the ICC has already warned the PCB that non-compliance with the participation agreement could lead to serious disciplinary action. These potential consequences reportedly include sanctions, suspensions from international and regional competitions and even the withdrawal of no-objection certificates for overseas players participating in the Pakistan Super League. The report further states that the PCB has no legitimate basis to boycott the T20 World Cup or the India-Pakistan clash to be played in Sri Lanka on February 15, 2026.