Dhaka, February 5, 2026: Bangladesh has welcomed Pakistan’s decision to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India, viewing it as a show of solidarity following Dhaka’s exclusion from the tournament, a senior official said on Thursday.
“Thank you, Pakistan,” Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul wrote on Facebook after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the decision. “Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his country has decided to boycott its match against India in protest against Bangladesh being excluded from the T20 World Cup.”
Sharif announced on Wednesday that Pakistan would not face India in response to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament, stressing that politics should not interfere with sport. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland after refusing to play its matches in India, which is co-hosting the tournament with Sri Lanka.
Speaking to his cabinet, Sharif said Pakistan’s stance was intended to support Bangladesh, calling the boycott “an appropriate response” to what Islamabad deemed an unfair decision. Bangladesh had declined to send its team to India, citing security concerns. The International Cricket Council (ICC), however, said relocating Bangladesh’s fixtures at this stage was not feasible, leading to the team’s removal last month.
Pakistan’s government initially allowed its national team to participate in the tournament while boycotting the February 15 group-stage match against India in Sri Lanka.
The ICC has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of “significant and long-term implications” over the boycott, noting potential disruptions to the global cricket ecosystem. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticized the ICC’s handling of the situation, accusing it of double standards regarding Bangladesh’s exclusion.
The controversy has intensified diplomatic and sporting tensions in South Asian cricket, raising questions about governance, security concerns, and the role of politics in international sport. The situation traces back to the ICC forcing a local franchise to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman, triggering wider disagreements and disputes.
