Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) expressing support for Bangladesh’s concerns about travelling to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
Sources said the PCB’s correspondence backed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) reluctance to play World Cup matches in India due to regional political and security instability. The letter was reportedly circulated among ICC Board members ahead of the governing body’s meeting on the issue.
The ICC is expected to take a final decision on Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament during its board meeting on Wednesday.
Bangladesh has formally requested that its World Cup fixtures be relocated to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns in India. However, it remains unclear whether the PCB’s intervention directly prompted the ICC to convene the meeting.
Despite growing attention around the issue, sources believe the PCB’s move is unlikely to alter the ICC’s current stance. The governing body has so far remained firm on maintaining the existing tournament schedule, rejecting Bangladesh’s request to play its matches in Sri Lanka — a co-host of the event alongside India.
The ICC reiterated this position to the BCB during discussions held last week.
Backed by the Bangladeshi government, the BCB has continued to refuse travel to India for the group-stage matches. Multiple rounds of talks between the ICC and BCB, including a recent meeting in Dhaka, have failed to break the deadlock.
While the ICC insists the matches proceed as scheduled, Bangladesh remains unwilling to send its team to India.
The PCB’s entry into the issue follows days of speculation about Pakistan’s potential role in resolving the impasse. Unconfirmed reports suggested Pakistan had offered to host Bangladesh’s matches and was even reassessing its own participation in the tournament depending on the outcome.
The PCB, however, has not issued any public statement on the matter.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh currently slated to open its campaign against West Indies in Kolkata, followed by two additional group matches at the same venue, before concluding the group stage in Mumbai.
The dispute traces its roots to the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 squad on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), without any official explanation.
This was followed by the Bangladesh government banning IPL broadcasts in the country, after which the BCB formally informed the ICC of its refusal to play World Cup matches in India — a stance it has maintained since.
Earlier reports suggested that Pakistan may reassess its participation in the India–Sri Lanka-hosted World Cup amid growing concerns over Bangladesh’s situation.
Sources told that the Bangladesh government had reached out to Pakistan for support, with Islamabad backing Bangladesh’s legitimate security concerns and stressing that no country should face pressure or threats.
Pakistan has reportedly assured Bangladesh of its full support on the matter.