The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to take a final call on its participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup later this week, though a boycott of the tournament now appears increasingly improbable.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who had earlier indicated that all options were being considered following Bangladesh’s removal, softened his stance after holding talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday. The strong language around a possible withdrawal has since eased, suggesting Pakistan may ultimately adhere to the tournament schedule.
In a message shared on social media, Naqvi described the meeting as constructive and said the Prime Minister had been briefed on the ICC-related developments. According to Naqvi, it was agreed that the matter would be resolved while keeping all possibilities open, with a final decision expected either on Friday or early next week.
Ahead of the meeting, sections of the Pakistani media had speculated that the national team could boycott their high-profile clash against India on February 15. However, the prevailing view now is that such a move is unlikely, with Pakistan expected to fulfil its World Cup commitments.
The PCB has reportedly been informed that any violation of its participation agreement with the ICC could lead to serious consequences. These include potential suspension from international and regional tournaments, as well as the withdrawal of no-objection certificates (NOCs) required for Pakistani players to feature in overseas leagues, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
It is also understood that Pakistan would have limited grounds to justify a boycott of either the tournament as a whole or the marquee fixture against India, especially with the venue already finalised.
