Lahore, January 19, 2026: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly paused all preparations for the national team ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka, citing security concerns surrounding Bangladesh’s participation, according to a private news channel on Monday.
Officials said the team management will be briefed on the future course of action and asked to prepare a contingency plan in case Pakistan decides not to participate in the tournament. Pakistan has expressed full support for Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India, describing their security concerns as “reasonable and valid.”
Sources confirmed that if Bangladesh’s participation remains unresolved, Pakistan will reconsider its own involvement. PCB officials reiterated that no country should face pressure or threats regarding hosting responsibilities.
On January 11, the PCB had offered to host Bangladesh’s matches if venues in Sri Lanka were unavailable. All Pakistani venues are reportedly ready to stage World Cup fixtures, having successfully hosted major ICC events, including the Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC Women’s Qualifier.
In a related update, Cricket Ireland confirmed that their group-stage matches will remain in Sri Lanka, dismissing reports that Bangladesh might swap groups. “We’ve received definitive assurances that we won’t move from the original schedule. We’re definitely playing the group stage in Sri Lanka,” an official said.
A final decision on Bangladesh’s participation, particularly regarding travel to India, is expected by January 21 following ICC-BCB discussions in Dhaka. Bangladesh’s opening match is scheduled against West Indies in Kolkata, with subsequent games at the same venue before concluding in Mumbai.
Should Bangladesh ultimately decline to travel to India, the ICC is expected to nominate a replacement team, with Scotland currently next in line based on rankings.
