The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of potential heavy sanctions if Pakistan boycotts the upcoming T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh. The move comes after PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticized the ICC for "double standards" in its treatment of Bangladesh, whose request to relocate their matches from India due to security concerns was rejected.

Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister, publicly backed Bangladesh's stance, stating that they had been treated unfairly and that the ICC's decision-making process lacked consistency. He further questioned why the venue flexibility previously extended to Pakistan was not granted to Bangladesh. This public challenge to the ICC's authority has reportedly angered the governing body.

If Pakistan follows through with a boycott, the ICC is prepared to impose severe sanctions that could lead to the country's cricketing isolation. These measures could include the suspension of all bilateral series, preventing Pakistan from participating in any international matches outside of ICC events. Furthermore, Pakistan could be excluded from the Asia Cup, a significant regional tournament.

The sanctions could also extend to the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the ICC potentially denying No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to foreign players, which would prevent them from participating in the league. This would significantly impact the PSL's commercial viability and revenue streams. The ICC could also withdraw recognition and commercial backing for the PSL.

According to sources, the ICC views a potential boycott by Pakistan not as a routine scheduling dispute, but as a breach of obligations by a full member nation. The ICC fears that allowing multiple teams to opt out of tournaments due to security concerns, despite independent assessments deeming them unfounded, would undermine the credibility of ICC events and destabilize future tournaments.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has also urged the PCB to boycott the T20 World Cup in support of Bangladesh. Latif argued that this was an opportunity for Pakistan to challenge the existing cricketing power structure. He stated that Pakistan's participation is crucial for the tournament's success and that a boycott would send a strong message.

Despite the PCB's expression of solidarity with Bangladesh, a final decision on Pakistan's participation in the T20 World Cup rests with Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif. The situation remains tense, with the potential for significant repercussions for Pakistan cricket if it chooses to boycott the tournament.