"The announcement on Sunday, fittingly, was made by Pakistan's government, a reminder that this episode goes well beyond a game of cricket. In a post on X, the government approved the national side's participation at this month's T20 World Cup, but with a significant caveat. The Pakistan cricket team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15 February 2026 against India, read the statement. The disintegration of this global tournament continues, that one line prompting serious concern for the sport's economy. No further explanation was provided."
"When the Board of Control for Cricket in India instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman in early January, amid escalating tensions between the two countries, it set off the first boycott of this World Cup. Cue the Bangladesh Cricket Board's refusal to travel to India, citing security concerns and the advice of its government. The explanation didn't match with the security assessments commissioned by the International Cricket Council, and the governing body refused to budge: Bangladesh would not have their matches moved to Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament. Scotland were told to stuff their suitcases and hop on over."
"For Mohsin Naqvi, the chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Bangladesh's removal was an injustice, a show of double standards that favoured India. He would take the matter to his government. India, of course, did not travel to Pakistan for last year's Champions Trophy. It was a decision the ICC did not feel the need to publicly explain when it announced, in December 2024, the adoption of its hybrid model for tournaments from now on: Pakistan would not visit India and vice versa. Naqvi, who wants sports and politics to be kept apart, is Pakistan's interior minister. The ICC is led by Jay Shah, the former secretary of the BCCI and son of the Indian home affairs minister, Amit Shah. It was during Shah's reign at the BCCI that"
The Pakistan government approved the national team's participation in the T20 World Cup while prohibiting the match against India on 15 February 2026. No official explanation accompanied the restriction. Earlier tensions began when the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman, prompting Bangladesh to refuse travel to India over security concerns. The ICC's security assessments differed and the ICC declined to move Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka, forcing schedule adjustments. Pakistan's PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi called Bangladesh's removal unfair and involved his government. The ICC has adopted a hybrid model that prevents Pakistan-India tours under Jay Shah's leadership.
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