The Government of Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to the spirit of international cricket and regional cooperation by directing the Pakistan national cricket team to participate in its scheduled ICC Men T20 World Cup fixture on February 15, 2026.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was formally briefed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on the outcomes of high-level discussions involving the PCB, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The briefing covered diplomatic engagements and multilateral consultations aimed at resolving recent challenges affecting the tournament.
The government reviewed formal requests made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, along with supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other ICC member nations. These correspondences urged Pakistan to play a constructive leadership role in ensuring continuity of the global cricket event.
Islamabad also took note of the statement issued by BCB President Amin ul Islam, expressing appreciation for Pakistan supportive stance. The government said the gratitude from Bangladesh was received warmly, reaffirming that Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with its friendly neighbour.
On the same day, Prime Minister Sharif held a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Both leaders recalled the long-standing solidarity between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, particularly during challenging times. The Sri Lankan President requested Pakistan serious consideration in resolving the ongoing impasse through amicable means.
The government stated that the decision to field the national team reflects Pakistan commitment to safeguarding the spirit of cricket and supporting the uninterrupted progress of the sport across all participating nations.
The Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan extended their best wishes to the “Men in Green,” expressing confidence in their sportsmanship and national pride on the world stage.
29 Jan, 2026 :
The Champions Bangladesh womens team will return home from Bangkok today (Thursday) evening after finishing their campaign in the just-concluded inaugural SAFF Womens Futsal Championship.
A BG 389 flight, carrying the womens team, is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal Intl Airport at 6.15 pm.
The Bangladesh womens team, led by Sabina Khatun, emerged unbeaten champions in the seven-team SAFF Futsal championship.
To make their historic victory memorable, the Bangladesh Football Federation decided to give the womens team a formal reception.
The team will be brought from the airport with an open-roof top bus to the Hatirjheel amphitheater, where the girls will be given a formal reception.
Earlier, the Bangladesh womens team made a winning start in the tournament, beating India by 3-1 goals in their match.
The Sabina and Co, came from behind, played out to a 3-3 with Bhutan in their second match, blanked Nepal by 3-0 goals in their third match and beat Sri Lanka by 6-3 goals in their four match, thrashed Pakistan by 9-1 goals in their penultimate match and crushed Maldives by 14-2 goals to emerge champions in the tournament, all held at Nonthaburi Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
27 Jan, 2026 :
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan today said the government has not ruled out participating in the international cricket tournaments, rather sought alternative venues to ensure the safety of its players and spectators.
“The government has never said that we wont play. Weve clearly stated that were interested in participating in the World Cup. What weve asked for is an alternative venue,”
The Adviser was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat today.
Fouzul said Bangladesh remains interested in taking part in the Cricket World Cup and other ICC events, provided that suitable arrangements are made.
Referring to previous precedents, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said the International Cricket Council (ICC) has previously arranged neutral venues for teams facing security or political concerns.
“India didnt play in Pakistan for many years and played matches in different countries. So, providing an alternative venue is nothing unusual,” he added.
He stressed that Bangladesh was not making any unprecedented or unreasonable demand.
“This is not something absurd or an innovation coming out of nowhere. It is a practice that already exists in international cricket,” he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the governments decision, the Adviser referred to security concerns arising from political developments in the host country.
He cited the exclusion of Bangladesh famed pacer Mustafizur Rahman from a previous event as a key factor.
“You know why Mustafiz was excluded. Certain political groups… demanded that he be dropped,” Khan said.
“In that context, we considered the safety of our players and the security of spectators and that is why we took this decision,”
Fouzul reiterated that the governments priority is to ensure a safe and secure environment for Bangladeshi athletes whenever they compete abroad.
“Our position is based on ensuring the safety of our players and fans. This is a policy-based stand, not a political one,” he said.
Khan also expressed hope that the ICC would address Bangladeshs concerns in line with established international practices and facilitate arrangements that allow the team to participate without compromising security.
22 Jan, 2026 :
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul today said there is no possibility of Bangladesh travelling to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, as the security situation there has not changed.
“There is no scope to change our decision. We believe we did not receive justice from the ICC, but we still hope the ICC will reconsider its decision,” he told reporters after a meeting with Bangladesh cricketers and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials at a city hotel.
He said the meeting with the players was arranged to provide them with a first-hand briefing on the situation following the ICCs rejection of the BCBs request to relocate Bangladeshs matches to Sri Lanka.
“The ICC claims that the security situation in India is good enough to host cricket, but what we see is that the situation remains unchanged. Our security concerns did not arise out of thin air; they stemmed from a real incident,” he said.
Referring to national team pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the adviser added, “One of our players was withdrawn from playing in the IPL because the organisers could not ensure his proper security when faced with pressure from extremist groups.”
“When the security of a single player cannot be guaranteed, how can security be ensured for an entire contingent that includes players, officials, journalists, and other stakeholders?” he questioned.
Asif Nazrul also expressed dissatisfaction with how the ICC handled the issue, stating that the governing body focused on standard security protocols while ignoring the incident that triggered Bangladeshs grievances.
According to him, neither the ICC nor the Indian government made any effort to address Bangladeshs security issues.
“There were no outreach, no apology, no explanation of the measures being taken, and no effort to reassure the safety of our players, journalists, or spectators,” he said.