New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of serious sanctions if it withdraws from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in support of Bangladesh, following Bangladesh’s ouster from the tournament for refusing to play their matches in India.
The ICC announced on Saturday that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2026 after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declined to participate according to the published match schedule.
Following Bangladesh’s exit, BCB Secretary Jalal Yunus Naqvi accused the ICC of “double standards” favouring India and described the situation as “an injustice” to Bangladesh. He added that a final decision on Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup participation would be made after consultations with Pakistan’s government.
“Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. One country can make any decision whenever, while it is the opposite for another. Bangladesh is a major stakeholder, and this injustice should not happen,” Naqvi told reporters on Saturday.
He further said, “Our stance on World Cup participation will follow the instructions of the government of Pakistan. The Prime Minister is not in Pakistan right now. When he returns, I will be able to give a final decision. It is the government’s decision; we obey them, not the ICC.”
According to a report in The Indian Express, the ICC could impose multiple sanctions on Pakistan if it decides to withdraw from the T20 World Cup, including suspension of all bilateral series, denial of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for foreign players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and exclusion from the Asia Cup.
“If Pakistan also decides not to play the T20 World Cup, the ICC will impose a series of sanctions, including no bilateral series with any international team, no NOC for foreign players in PSL, and no Asia Cup participation,” an ICC source told the report.
Pakistan is scheduled to play all its matches in Sri Lanka as part of the co-hosted event. They are set to play the opening game of the tournament against the Netherlands on February 7, and face India on February 15 in Colombo during the group stage.
With IANS inputs