Sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will make the “final decision” on whether Pakistan will play against India or maintain its boycott during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. This decision is being closely watched by cricket fans worldwide due to the historic rivalry between the two nations.
Pakistan Cricket Board PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet the prime minister and brief him about his recent discussions with the International Cricket Council ICC delegation. The meeting will help the government understand the full situation before making a final call.
Pakistan had earlier decided not to play against India in support of Bangladesh. Bangladesh was removed from the tournament after refusing to send its team to New Delhi due to security concerns.
A major meeting lasting more than five hours was held between PCB, ICC, and Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB officials. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, BCB President Aminul Islam, and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja attended the talks. During the discussions, ICC responded positively to Bangladesh’s concerns and prepared a formula to address the issue.
Officials said proposals were exchanged between ICC and BCB, while PCB played a key role in coordinating the discussions. ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja has returned to ICC headquarters for final approval, while Aminul Islam has gone back to Bangladesh to brief his board.
The conflict began after Bangladesh’s star bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League IPL following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI. This decision caused anger in Bangladesh.
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Bangladesh later requested ICC to move its matches outside India, but the request was rejected. After Bangladesh refused to participate, ICC replaced them with Scotland, saying schedule changes were not possible so close to the tournament.
PCB strongly opposed ICC’s decision and announced a boycott of Pakistan’s match against India, calling it unfair treatment of Bangladesh.
The Pakistan vs India match is considered one of the most valuable events in cricket. Experts estimate a single T20 match between the two countries is worth about $500 million in total commercial value. Advertising slots alone can cost between INR25 lakh and INR40 lakh for just 10 seconds, showing the huge financial importance of the match.
Now, all eyes are on PM Shehbaz Sharif, whose decision could either restore the biggest rivalry in cricket or continue the ongoing boycott.
This decision is not only about cricket but also about politics and fairness. Pakistan wants to show support for Bangladesh. At the same time, the match has huge financial and global importance. The prime minister’s decision can affect cricket relations and future tournaments.
