PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi warns ICC after Bangladesh exit from T20I World Cup in India

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has openly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) following Bangladesh’s reported exclusion from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in India, calling the move “unfair” and warning that the issue could escalate further.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Naqvi struck a firm, Bangladesh-first tone, insisting that the neighbouring country should not be sidelined at the very outset of a global tournament. He framed Bangladesh not as a marginal participant, but as a key stakeholder in world cricket whose treatment could undermine the credibility of the World Cup itself.

“Humne yeh stand liya hai ke Bangladesh ke saath zyadti ho rahi hai. Bangladesh ko shuru se World Cup mein khilana chahiye. Woh ek bara stakeholder hain aur unke saath yeh na-insafi nahi honi chahiye,” Naqvi said.

(We have taken the position that Bangladesh is being treated unfairly. They should be allowed to play the World Cup from the very beginning. They are a major stakeholder and this injustice should not happen to them.)

By emphasising Bangladesh’s status as a “major stakeholder,” Naqvi attempted to shift the debate beyond sympathy, arguing that their inclusion is structurally important for a tournament that claims to represent global cricket.

The PCB chief also floated a contingency scenario should Pakistan decide to boycott the tournament in solidarity with Bangladesh, making it clear, however, that such a decision would not be taken by the board alone.

“Agar government of Pakistan kehti hai ke nahi khelna, toh phir woh 22nd team le aaye. Lekin yeh faisla government of Pakistan ko karna hai,” he stated.

(If the Government of Pakistan says we should not play, then the ICC can bring in a 22nd team. But that decision rests with the Government of Pakistan.)

The remark served a dual purpose: distancing the PCB from any immediate boycott decision while simultaneously criticising the ICC’s handling of the situation and highlighting the logistical complications such a move could create.

Naqvi was more guarded when asked whether other cricket boards were backing Pakistan and Bangladesh, particularly regarding any venue-change discussions. He suggested that the issue involved multiple behind-the-scenes factors and refrained from naming specific supporters.

“Yeh Bangladesh ka mauqaf tha. Ismein bohat se factors involve hain, aur main abhi detail mein nahi jaana chahta”

“This was Bangladesh’s position. There are many factors involved in it, and I do not want to go into the details right now,” he said, adding that he would explain how the decision unfolded when the time was right.

The interaction reflected a calculated mix of public defiance and strategic restraint. While Naqvi firmly defended Bangladesh and questioned the ICC’s approach, he stopped short of committing Pakistan to any drastic action, instead placing responsibility with the Pakistani government.

For now, the PCB’s stance keeps the spotlight firmly on what it views as an unjust decision and on the belief that Bangladesh should not be the first team to pay the price in an increasingly politicised World Cup landscape.