Pakistan's T20 World Cup Participation Hangs in Balance After PM Meeting

"Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday," the PCB chairman wrote on X.

Earlier, PCB chairman and the country's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, had indicated that Pakistan could reconsider its participation in the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka after Bangladesh were ejected from the tournament by the ICC, reported Dawn News.

Mohsin Naqvi's comments follow the ICC's official removal of Bangladesh from the marquee tournament after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to play matches in India. In place of Bangladesh, Scotland has replaced them.

When asked about the potential boycott of the tournament, Naqvi said, "We are waiting for the prime minister to return," he said, adding that a final decision would be taken then.

Pakistan has already been given a concession by the ICC and will be playing all its league games, including that against India in Sri Lanka.

However, after Naqvi's comment, Pakistan announced their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, according to the ICC. Led by Salman Agha, the 2009 winners will make a push for their second title in the marquee tournament, starting February 7.

Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

- ANI