Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has broken his silence following a meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the country's participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The meeting, lasting approximately 30 minutes, took place on Monday, January 26, 2026, amidst a backdrop of controversy surrounding the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament.

Naqvi briefed the Prime Minister on the situation, and a mutual agreement was reached to make a final decision by Friday, January 30, or Monday, February 2. Naqvi has stated that "all options" are on the table, including a potential boycott of the T20 World Cup in 2026.

The controversy stems from the ICC's decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns. The BCB had requested the ICC to shift their matches from India to Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the tournament, a request that was ultimately denied. The ICC, after commissioning independent security assessments, concluded that there was no credible threat to the Bangladesh team in India.

Pakistan, under Naqvi's leadership, has been a vocal supporter of Bangladesh's position, accusing the ICC of "double standards" and unfair treatment towards Bangladesh. Naqvi argued that the ICC appeared to be favoring one country, alluding to India, by allowing them to "do whatever they want" while imposing stricter standards on others. He also said Bangladesh is a major stakeholder and this injustice should not be done.

The PCB's strong stance has led to speculation about a potential boycott of the World Cup, with some reports suggesting that Pakistan might even consider skipping their match against India. This prompted strong reactions, with former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan criticizing Naqvi's comments as "foolish bravado" and warning that such posturing would hurt the players. Wassan believes that dragging politics into cricket only harms the game. He added that Naqvi's actions are a form of "blackmail" against the cricketing world order.

Adding to the uncertainty, reports suggest the ICC is dissatisfied with Naqvi's confrontational stance and is considering taking drastic steps if Pakistan decides to pull out of the T20 World Cup. These steps could include suspending all bilateral matches with Pakistan, excluding them from the Asia Cup, and enforcing a "no objection certificate" approach to prevent foreign players from participating in the Pakistan Super League.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty, Pakistan announced its 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup on Sunday, January 25. However, their participation remains subject to government approval.

The coming days are critical as the cricketing world awaits the final decision from the Pakistani government. The outcome will not only determine Pakistan's participation in the T20 World Cup but also potentially impact the relationship between the PCB and the ICC.