Out of several cricketing nations, Pakistan is the only one that has extended its support towards Bangladesh, as both countries have security concerns playing the T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
Despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) agreeing to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demands on playing its matches at a neutral venue, the former champions have kept their participation on standby.
Bangladesh boycotted its participation on Saturday (January 25) after weeks and weeks of prolonged requests to the ICC over relocating their fixtures outside India.
Meanwhile, it is speculated that Pakistan’s exit could pave the way for Bangladesh’s return to the tournament with a potential swap in Group A fixtures scheduled in Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh-Pakistan Swap Move: Will ICC Give Up?
ICC is unlikely to fulfill Bangladesh’s demands by replacing Pakistan in Group A. By doing so, the global governing body could end up accepting the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) security threats in India.
Bangladesh’s comeback, added with Pakistan’s withdrawal, could increase the allegations that the Jay Shah-led ICC is biased towards India.
On Saturday (January 24, 2026), Scotland was named as the official replacement in Group C, after Bangladesh’s repeated denial to play matches in India.
Will Pakistan Take a Risk With T20 World Cup 2026 Exit?
Without any valid strong reason, Pakistan could suffer severe actions imposed by the ICC only if it withdraws from the T20 World Cup 2026.
Along with getting banned and losing hosting rights for international cricket events, the overseas players are unlikely to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective nations to take part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Alternatively, Pakistan might consider boycotting its Group A match against India scheduled on February 15 (Sunday) in Colombo. Although the men in green will lose two points, this will ensure they do not withdraw entirely from the World Cup, as well as show some actions of severe protest.
BCCI Vice President Against Pakistan’s Interference
Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), broke his silence on this matter, saying that Pakistan’s intervention in this matter was absolutely unnecessary:
“Of Course! We wished Bangladesh could have played and assured to provide complete security. But they have made this decision. It is a proven fact that changing the entire schedule at the last moment becomes very difficult. That is why Scotland was named in the very last minute.
Unnecessarily, Pakistan is intervening in the matter without any proper reason and provoking Bangladesh. Let’s not forget Pakistan’s cruelty to the Bangladeshis, which everyone remembers to date. Still, they are misleading them and showing off in front of the world as if they are the well-wishers. This is completely wrong,” Shukla said.
Champions Trophy 2025 Hybrid Model: Main Reason why Pakistan is backing Bangladesh?
Even though Pakistan’s political relationship hasn’t been so great with Bangladesh, the main reason for their support is to counterattack its arch-rivals India.
This situation is reminiscent of the Champions Trophy 2025. Ahead of the 50-over tournament, India demanded to shift its matches to a neutral venue like Dubai and refrained from traveling to Pakistan due to security concerns.
However, ICC accepted India’s plea and introduced the hybrid model till the 2027 media rights cycle. Under this agreement, India and Pakistan would compete at a neutral venue if either of the nations hosts any high-profile tournaments.
Bangladesh’s safety concerns in India gave PCB a chance to highlight its role as the nation’s strongest supporter in such difficult situations.
Also, this was the perfect opportunity for Pakistan to accuse the ICC of double standards. As a consequence, this could reference ICC Chairman Jay Shah’s past role as BCCI secretary and his bias towards India.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have improved their cricketing ties, competing against each other in bilateral matches and series. For both countries, India now remains their common enemy, which has turned the sporting relationship into a bitter rivalry.
Consequences If Pakistan Continue T20 World Cup Protest
The following consequences can prove to be too costly for Pakistan if it continues its protest demanding justice for Bangladesh’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2026:
- Boycotting India’s matches and forfeiting two points could result in a huge loss for Pakistan in terms of sponsorship and broadcast revenue.
- Wearing arm bands as a sign of strong protest might cause the Pakistan team to get penalized by the ICC.
Suppose PCB violates the hybrid model mutually agreed with BCCI, they could face severe consequences.
However, the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, said that the national team’s participation in the tournament purely depends upon the Pakistan government’s decision, which will be taken either on Friday (January 30) or Monday (February 02).