PCB's Mohsin Naqvi Jay Shah for ICC. Image Credits: X
The PCB, led by Mohsin Naqvi, has made a shocking request to the ICC amid ongoing India-Bangladesh tensions over T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India. PCB’s request has come in the aftermath of Bangladesh’s refusal to play their T20 World Cup matches in India.
In what seems to be a surprising piece of news for the cricket fans, a report in Geo News understands the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed interest in hosting Bangladesh’s games in the T20 World Cup. However, any official communication from either PCB or ICC around this development is still awaited.
"Pakistan has already successfully hosted major ICC events" - PCB sources
The PCB sources informed the Pakistan-based media outlet Geo Super on Sunday about the board's interest in hosting Bangladesh's matches after their rift with India left the World Cup schedule hanging in the balance.
"Pakistan has formally conveyed its interest in hosting Bangladesh's T20 World Cup fixtures if venues in Sri Lanka are unavailable. All Pakistani venues are fully prepared to stage World Cup matches," sources were quoted as saying by Geo Super.
"Pakistan has already successfully hosted major ICC events, including the Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC Women's Qualifier, and is therefore capale of organising these matches smoothly as well," the PCB sources added later.
T20 World Cup 2026 scenario hangs in the balance
Earlier in the concerning line of developments, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) axed the Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026. The board asked the franchise, KKR, to release Mustafizur and also allowed them to request a replacement.
"Due to the recent developments that are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had said to ANI.
Furthermore, BCCI's step prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to respond promptly, and the latter didn't take long to adopt a tough stance. In response to BCCI's move to remove Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026, the BCB made the official announcement that the Bangladesh cricket team will not travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Meanwhile, the BCB also requested that the ICC shift their T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India to a neutral venue. A string of meetings among the ICC, BCCI, and BCB has unfolded since Bangladesh refused to play its World Cup matches in India. However, the situation still hangs in the balance, as neither stakeholder has issued an official update.
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