ICC–PCB Standoff Over T20 World Cup

Pakistan Faces Possible Sanctions Amid T20 World Cup Boycott Threat

January 25, 2026: As the 2026 T20 World Cup deadline nears, tensions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have escalated sharply, pushing their relationship to a critical juncture. The standoff intensified after PCB Chairman and Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the ICC of “double standards” over its refusal to shift Bangladesh’s World Cup matches out of India. Reports suggest the ICC is displeased with Naqvi’s confrontational remarks and Pakistan’s alleged solidarity stance with Bangladesh, raising fears of a potential withdrawal from the global event.

According to sources, if Pakistan pulls out of the T20 World Cup, the ICC could respond with unprecedented sanctions that may lead to near-total cricketing isolation. These measures reportedly include suspension of bilateral series, exclusion from the Asia Cup, and a coordinated “No Objection Certificate” policy to block foreign players from featuring in the Pakistan Super League. Such steps would severely hit the PCB’s revenue and undermine the viability of Pakistan’s domestic and international cricket calendar.

While Pakistan has not formally announced a withdrawal, Naqvi said the final decision rests with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and called on other boards to support Bangladesh. He maintained that Bangladesh had been treated unfairly, arguing that concessions granted to some nations should apply equally to all full ICC members. Naqvi stressed that no single country should dictate terms within international cricket, reiterating Pakistan’s backing of Bangladesh’s position.