PCB to hold emergency meeting with PM on World Cup issue

The Pakistan Cricket Board will take a final decision on Monday (January 26) whether Pakistan will play in the 2026 T20 World Cup. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that the decision will be announced after discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Naqvi said that they do not accept the ICC’s double standard. He said, “Pakistan has always been for the principles of cricket. Supporting Bangladesh is also part of that principle.” Naqvi spoke to the players and team managers selected for the World Cup in Lahore. He said that the decision taken by the government will be fully implemented.
He said, “Politizing cricket is not good for anyone. All teams have to follow the principles of the game.” He highlighted the ICC’s decision to exclude Bangladesh from the game with Scotland. The ICC took this decision after Bangladesh refused to travel to India due to security reasons.
Pakistan players have fully supported the board’s position. They said they would follow whatever decision the PCB takes. Naqvi said success comes from team effort and the skill of the players. He praised the team’s preparation and fighting spirit.
Explaining the reason for supporting Bangladesh, Naqvi said, “No country can impose conditions on another country. Cricket should be kept free from politics.” He described the ICC’s decision as a “reflection of double standards.”
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Naqvi will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today. A final announcement on Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup will be made after the meeting. Meanwhile, the PCB has finalized Pakistan’s squad for the T20 World Cup. The team is led by captain Salman Ali Agar and features Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan.
India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the World Cup. The tournament begins on February 7. Scotland has been placed in Group C. They will play against West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal. Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.