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Bangladesh Cricket Board urges Pakistan to finish its boycott of the India match within the 2026 T20 World Cup, praising Mohsin Naqvi and PCB for solidarity amid ICC and BCCI decisions.
Bangladesh were ejected from the T20 World Cup 2026 (Picture Credit: AFP)
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has released a press release publicly requesting that Pakistan end its boycott of the February 15 match against India within the 2026 T20 World Cup. It also prolonged its ‘sincere appreciation’ to the Pakistan Cricket Board and its chief, Mohsin Naqvi, for showing ‘exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity’ and their roles in helping it ‘overcome recent challenges’.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) extends its sincere appreciation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and all involved for his or her positive roles in attempting to overcome recent challenges. Specifically, the BCB wishes to precise its profound and heartfelt gratitude to PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, his Board and the cricket fans of Pakistan. Throughout this era, the PCB has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity,” the statement said.
It was a transparent nod on the PCB being the one board to support its demand to maneuver its T20 World Cup matches out of India as a consequence of security concerns, in light of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). ICC rejected that, saying it had done an independent security check, and eventually ejected Bangladesh from the roster, replacing it with Scotland.
In response, Pakistan announced its boycott of the group stage game against India, calling ICC’s decision on Bangladesh an ‘injustice’. ICC had to rearrange some back-channel negotiations to persuade the PCB against the boycott — which also included reminders that by going ahead with the boycott, PCB can be in breach of its contractual agreements — where BCB was also involved.
The entire episode seems to have clearly brought Bangladesh and Pakistan, once bitter enemies, back together in a ‘brotherhood’.
“We’re deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this era,” BCB chairman MD Aminul Islam said within the statement. “Long may our brotherhood flourish. Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the advantage of the whole cricket ecosystem.”
February 09, 2026, 23:01 IST
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