Pakistan has formally thrown its weight behind Bangladesh’s push to shift its Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches away from India.
According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent an official communication to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, expressing support for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and its refusal to play in India amid regional tensions and security concerns.
The message was also circulated to members of the ICC Board, indicating Pakistan wanted its stance placed on record ahead of an expected decision.
The ICC is understood to be holding a Board meeting on Wednesday to take up Bangladesh’s request, with the BCB seeking to have its fixtures moved to Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the event with India. While it remains unclear whether Pakistan’s letter led to the meeting, the timing has added pressure to an already sensitive situation.
Despite Pakistan’s involvement, the ICC has so far maintained that the tournament schedule should remain unchanged. Officials have reportedly conveyed to the BCB during recent discussions that shifting Bangladesh’s matches out of India is not currently on the table.
Bangladesh, backed by its government, has stood firm on not traveling to India for its group-stage games. The ICC and BCB have held multiple rounds of talks, including meetings in Dhaka last weekend, but neither side has moved from its position. Reports suggest January 21 was set as the deadline for clarity, with the World Cup now less than three weeks away.
Pakistan’s entry into the matter follows a week of speculation over possible workarounds if the standoff continues. There were unverified claims that Pakistan had offered to host Bangladesh’s matches, while other reports suggested Pakistan could reassess its own participation depending on how the issue is resolved. The PCB has not made any public comment so far.
The dispute traces back to Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s sudden removal from the IPL, after which relations worsened further and Bangladesh’s government formally took the position that the national team would not play World Cup matches in India.
Since then, the fallout has spread beyond international cricket, with even domestic unrest surfacing in Bangladesh, including disruptions linked to player protests during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League.
With the ICC now expected to deliberate, the next 24 hours could determine whether Bangladesh’s venue request is accepted—or whether the World Cup faces a major participation crisis.
