Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly thrown its weight behind Bangladesh’s decision not to play its T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns, according to a media report. The development comes just ahead of a crucial International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, where a final decision on Bangladesh’s participation is expected.
Bangladesh are currently slated to play all four of their group-stage fixtures in India, with three matches planned in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, once the tournament begins on February 7. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), backed by its government, has refused to send the team across the border and has requested that its matches be relocated to co-host Sri Lanka.
On the eve of the ICC meeting, the PCB reportedly sent a formal communication to the world body expressing support for Bangladesh’s position. The letter, which referenced concerns over regional political instability, was circulated to all ICC Board members, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo.
Despite several rounds of discussions between the ICC and the BCB, including a recent meeting held in Dhaka, the impasse remains unresolved. The ICC has maintained that the tournament should proceed according to the existing schedule, while Bangladesh has remained firm in its refusal to play in India.
Although the PCB has not issued an official public statement, sources within the board indicated that Bangladesh’s government had approached Pakistan seeking backing on the matter at the ICC level.
Pakistan, meanwhile, is itself playing its international commitments under a hybrid arrangement, with all its matches hosted in Sri Lanka as part of an agreement involving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the ICC that runs through 2027.
The standoff involving Bangladesh reportedly escalated after Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman following a directive from the BCCI that cited unspecified “recent developments.” In the aftermath, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the IPL, and the BCB formally informed the ICC that it would not play its World Cup matches in India.
With the tournament fast approaching, the ICC now faces increasing pressure to find a resolution that balances scheduling commitments with geopolitical sensitivities.
