ICC T20 World Cup: PCB Considers India Match Boycott

Monday, 26 January 2026 | Web Desk

Following what it terms the “forcible eviction” of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has begun considering various options to formally protest the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision, with a potential boycott of its high-profile match against India on the table.

According to sources cited by various news channels, one strong option under discussion is boycotting Pakistan’s scheduled match against India in Colombo on February 15th. While such a move could lead to a two-point penalty for Pakistan for forfeiting the match, sources indicate the PCB is prepared for this consequence.

The sources further claim that the “not to play” option is firmly on the PCB’s agenda, and executing it would cause significant financial loss to the ICC from the marquee fixture. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has previously stated on record that once the government provides a directive, the board has “Plan A, B, and C” ready for action.

The controversy stems from Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the World Cup after refusing to travel to India over security concerns. The BCB had requested all its matches be relocated to Sri Lanka. The ICC rejected this request and subsequently ejected Bangladesh from the tournament, replacing them with Scotland in the group stage.

ICC Evicts Bangladesh for T20 World Cup 2026

For readers’ context, political relations between Bangladesh and India have been highly strained since the ousting of the Hasina Wajed government in Bangladesh. India has granted political asylum to former Prime Minister Hasina Wajed, while Bangladesh’s interim government continues to demand her extradition, adding a complex geopolitical layer to the cricketing dispute.