'No double standards': PCB looks to government after ICC T20 World Cup move on Bangladesh

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said the government of Pakistan will take the final decision on whether the national team participates in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Speaking to the media in Lahore after the ICC’s move, Naqvi described Bangladesh as a major stakeholder in world cricket and said the country had been treated unfairly. He stressed that Pakistan’s position would remain fully aligned with the government’s instructions and that no unilateral decision would be taken by the PCB.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi's media talk at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.#PakistanCricket | #PCB pic.twitter.com/WYvLGbqeEq

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 24, 2026

It comes following the reports of International Cricket Council’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the mega tournament.

Naqvi said he had raised the issue during the ICC board meeting, warning against what he described as double standards in global cricket governance. He added that the PCB was awaiting the ICC’s formal written decision, while confirming that multiple contingency plans were already in place.

The PCB chairman made it clear that Pakistan was more bound by the decisions of its own government than those of the ICC. He said the matter would be taken up once Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns, after which a final call would be made on Pakistan’s participation. He added that if the government decided not to send the team, the ICC could include another side in Pakistan’s place.

Media reports suggest that the ICC earlier confirmed Scotland’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup after Bangladesh failed to comply with board decisions. According to reports, Bangladesh declined to travel to India for the tournament, prompting the ICC to issue a 24-hour deadline to resolve the matter. When no solution emerged within the given timeframe, the governing body proceeded with the replacement.

The ICC chief executive reportedly informed board members in writing that Bangladesh’s demands were not in line with ICC policy and that the board had failed to implement agreed decisions. The communication was also sent to Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam, who is an ICC board member.

Cricket Scotland has since received an official invitation from the ICC, although no immediate response was issued by its chief executive. Scotland’s selection was reportedly based on recent performances in ICC events and its current world ranking of 14th. The team finished third in Group B of the 2024 T20 World Cup and famously defeated Bangladesh in the 2021 edition.