Pakistan can still boycott T20 World Cup 2026 despite announcing squad, confirms PCB chief

Pakistan chief Mohsin Naqvi has said that Pakistan's decision to play in the T20 World Cup 2026 stays with the Government of the country.

Pakistan’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is still not a certainty, even after the PCB named its 15-member squad for the tournament. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has clarified that the squad announcement should not be read as a final commitment. Pakistan is yet to confirm their participation and the board is awaiting direction from the Pakistan government before taking a call on travelling to Sri Lanka next month.

Pakistan publicly backed Bangladesh before and following their removal from the T20 World Cup and then proceeded to unveil a Salman Ali Agha-led squad a day later. The squad announcement had given the impression that the PCB had softened its stance under pressure from the ICC. Naqvi, however, has shut down that narrative.

Pakistan to boycott T20 World Cup 2026?

Speaking to players and head coach Mike Hesson in Lahore after the squad announcement, Naqvi made it clear that the decision to participate rests entirely with the government. According to him, the PCB has not changed its position since Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for refusing to travel to India.

“We are waiting for the government’s advice and whatever the government tells us to do, we will do it. If they don’t want us to go for the World Cup, we will follow it,” Naqvi told the players.

In an official PCB statement later, it was revealed that the players were briefed about the board’s stance on Bangladesh’s exclusion. IT basically means that players should know that PCB can back out anytime from playing the tournament, which is majorly hosted by India. Naqvi reiterated that Bangladesh were treated unfairly by the ICC and that refusing to play matches in India was a legitimate stand, not an act of defiance.

The PCB chief again accused the ICC of double standards, arguing that flexibility shown in other geopolitical situations should have been extended to Bangladesh as well. Pakistan had earlier written to the ICC supporting the BCB and even offered to host Bangladesh’s matches. While Bangladesh maintained their stance over not going to India, ICC did their foolproof research, and there was a 14-2 vote at the ICC meeting against Bangladesh’s stance. The only two votes were of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

ICC pressure and a ticking clock for Pakistan

It must be noted that Naqvi is yet to confirm Pakistan’s participation despite getting threats from the ICC. As reported earlier, the global body has privately conveyed that if Pakistan follows Bangladesh’s path and refuses to play the tournament, it will face severe sanctions. These include suspension of bilateral cricket, denial of NOCs for foreign players in the PSL and exclusion from the Asia Cup. These measures that would cripple Pakistan cricket financially and competitively.

The ICC’s stance hardened after Bangladesh ignored a 24-hour ultimatum and was subsequently replaced by Scotland. For now, Pakistan remain officially listed in Group A alongside India, the USA, Namibia and the Netherlands. But with the government yet to give a green signal, anything can happen.

Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 squad

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule