The controversy surrounding the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match at the upcoming T20 World Cup has escalated, with former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh launching a scathing critique against Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Singh has dubbed the situation "total drama," pointing to the illogical stance taken by Pakistan regarding their participation in the tournament.
The crux of the issue lies in Pakistan's recent announcement that while they will participate in the T20 World Cup, they will boycott the match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. This decision, according to reports, stems from the International Cricket Council's (ICC) controversial removal of Bangladesh from the tournament. Naqvi has asserted that the PCB's allegiance is to the Pakistan government, which will have the final say on the matter. He met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on January 26 to discuss the team's T20 World Cup plans, but a conclusive decision was not reached until February 1.
Harbhajan Singh has ridiculed Pakistan's stance, suggesting it is a ploy to mislead people and project solidarity with Bangladesh. In a statement on his YouTube channel, Singh said that there is absolutely no logic to this. He further added that the same Pakistan government and the PCB will say after some time that the dispute was actually Bangladesh's, the ICC imposed the ban, and they were ready to play and resolve the issue.
The ICC has responded to Pakistan's announcement with a firm statement, noting the difficulty in reconciling selective participation with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event. The ICC also stated that this decision can have bad complications for Pakistan and it's cricketing ecosystem going forward and asked the PCB to reconsider it's government's position on the matter. The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of.
This isn't the first time Mohsin Naqvi has faced criticism regarding cricket administration. In October 2025, he was called out by Harbhajan Singh for allegedly taking away the Asia Cup trophy after India's victory over Pakistan in the final. Reports indicated that the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi due to ongoing diplomatic tensions. Singh condemned Naqvi's behavior as "unbecoming of an administrator" and urged the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to address the incident publicly.
The current situation has further intensified the already strained relationship between the cricket boards of India and Pakistan. With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, the ICC faces the challenge of navigating this complex situation and ensuring the integrity of the tournament. The potential ramifications of Pakistan's boycott extend beyond this single match, raising concerns about the future of international cricket and the role of political influence in the sport. It remains to be seen whether the PCB will reconsider its position or if the ICC will impose sanctions, but one thing is clear: the drama surrounding the India-Pakistan clash is far from over.