T20 World Cup 2026 controversy: The Pakistan Cricket Board appears to be embroiled in the ongoing controversy surrounding Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Former Pakistan cricket officials and players are criticizing Mohsin Naqvi. They say that supporting Bangladesh is okay, but not at the expense of their own cricket.
Karachi: Former players have criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board for its support for Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 dispute. The former players unanimously stated that supporting Bangladesh is fine, but it should not be at the expense of national cricket. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has set a deadline of Friday or Monday for confirmation of Pakistan’s participation or withdrawal from the World Cup. This situation arose after Bangladesh was excluded from the tournament.
Former Pakistan Test captain Mohammad Hafeez believes the PCB should send the Pakistan team to the World Cup, while former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood and former secretary Arif Ali Abbasi see no logic in not sending the team. Abbasi said, “I can understand Pakistan supporting Bangladesh, but what will the PCB achieve by not sending the team, other than damaging relations with the International Cricket Council and member boards?”
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POLL
17 Votes
Do you think the Pakistan Cricket Board will send a team for the World Cup 2026?
- AI will definitely send a team
- Bwill not send a team
- CThe decision may be postponed now
- Dwill depend on the situation
Arif Ali Abbasi criticized the PCBAbbasi, who served on the board during the tenures of stalwarts like Jagmohan Dalmiya and IS Bindra, said the PCB must send a team to the World Cup. He said, “What will happen to our relationship with Sri Lanka? Obviously, if Pakistan doesn’t go, Sri Lanka will suffer because all our matches, including those against India, are held in Sri Lanka.” Mahmood said the PCB’s stance is commendable, but it should exercise prudence and prioritize the interests of Pakistan cricket.
Read this also-6,6,6,6,6,6,6,6,6,6 The English captain smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers, scoring 191 runs off 113 balls. Harry Brooke piled up runs with Root.He said, “We have to remember that apart from Pakistan, no other cricket board supported Bangladesh’s demand to move the matches from India. I can understand the Bangladesh board’s stance, but it is also true that they did not get any support at the ICC meeting.” Former Test batsman, former chief selector and head coach Mohsin Khan also appealed to the PCB to send the team to the World Cup. He said, “We have issues with India, but we are playing all our matches in Sri Lanka.”
Bangladesh will not appeal to the ICCHe also stated that he had read that the Bangladesh Board would neither appeal nor challenge the ICC’s decision. He warned, “Then on what basis would the PCB not send the team to the World Cup? This would be detrimental to our cricket.” Former captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf advised taking all aspects into consideration when making a final decision.
Read this also-How many changes will Team India make in the fourth T20I? What will be the playing XI against New Zealand?Inzamam said, “Personally, I want to see Pakistan play in the World Cup. We have good players, and our cricket needs the team to perform well in major tournaments.” Haroon Rashid, a former Test batsman and former head coach and chief selector of the senior and junior teams, believes Pakistan has every chance of participating in the World Cup, as there is no concrete reason for them to withdraw from the tournament. He said, “We supported Bangladesh, which is a good thing. We took a principled stand, but now it is time to look at our own cricketing interests.”
