PM to have the final say on Pak WC participation

PCB to finalise decision after consulting with Shehbaz

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will finalise its decision on whether the national cricket team will participate in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup on Monday (today), following consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi indicated on Sunday.

Naqvi said that the board rejects the International Cricket Council's (ICC) double standards, stressing that Pakistan has always supported cricketing principles, including its recent stance in backing Bangladesh.

Speaking to the national players selected to play the mega event, to be hosted by India in the second week of next month, and the team management in Lahore, Naqvi emphasised that the government's final decision would be implemented in full.

"Politicised cricket benefits no one. All stakeholders must operate according to the principles of the game," he said, referring to the ICC's decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament after Dhaka declined to send its team to India, citing safety concerns.

The players expressed full backing for the PCB's principled position, pledging to follow the board's stance. Naqvi underlined that success stems from teamwork and the talent of the players. He praised the squad for its competitiveness and readiness to face any challenge on the field.

Naqvi said that the PCB's support for Bangladesh was guided by cricket's golden principles. "No country can dictate terms to another. Cricket must remain free of political interference," he said. He labelled the ICC move "reflective of double standards."

Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday (today) to discuss the matter in detail, after which a final decision on participation will be announced.

Meanwhile, the PCB has confirmed the national squad for the T20 World Cup, blending experience and youth, with Salman Ali Agha as captain, supported by stars including Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan.

The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on February 7. Scotland has been slotted into Group C of the 20-team showpiece, opening against West Indies, followed by matches against Italy, England, and Nepal. Pakistan will play their matches in Sri Lanka.

Naqvi also extended best wishes to the team ahead of Pakistan's three-match T20I series against Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, starting January 29. He emphasised that teamwork remains central to achieving success.

Meanwhile, World Cricketers' Association (WCA) Chief Executive Tom Moffat described Bangladesh's exclusion from the tournament as a sad moment. In a statement, he urged the stakeholders, game leaders and players to work towards uniting the sport.

"The withdrawal of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and resulting absence of a valued cricketing nation from cricket's pinnacle international T20 event, is a sad moment for our sport, the Bangladesh players and fans, and one that requires deep reflection," Moffat said.

(WITH INPUT FROM REUTERS)