Mohsin Naqvi for PCB, Jay Shah for ICC. Image Credits: X
The Bangladesh–India controversy is spiralling rapidly and, amid the growing chaos, Pakistan have stepped in to show support for the Bengal Tigers.
As Bangladesh sent a formal request to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India, Mohsin Naqvi's Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) joined hands in backing the hybrid hosting option.
After Mustafizur Rahman was forcefully instructed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to exit the Kolkata Knight Riders squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) protested against travelling to India for the World Cup scheduled in February 2026.
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Why Bangladesh is boycotting India?
For the unaware, due to the ongoing socio-political upheaval in Bangladesh following the mob lynching of a Hindu resident by Muslim activists, Indian citizens expressed strong protests on social media.
Many targeted KKR for buying Mustafizur Rahman at the IPL 2025 mini auction and demanded his immediate release. Religious leaders also issued threats to invade pitches during IPL 2026 if Rahman played, and observing the growing unrest, the BCCI found it best to release Rahman ahead of the tournament.
BCB-ICC in a tussle over T20 World Cup 2026
This move left the BCB fuming. Responding to the development, the board sent a formal request to the ICC seeking the relocation of their T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India, prioritising Sri Lankan venues.
The board cited that if anti-Muslim sentiments were to be taken into account in India amid the current situation, the Bangladesh cricket team would not feel safe visiting the country for the entire tournament, citing safety and security concerns.
Mohsin Naqvi's PCB backs Bangladesh over venue dispute in T20 Wo
The Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB has voiced its support for Bangladesh’s stance and also indicated that it would raise the matter with the ICC if required.
Adding to this, former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi stated that the International Cricket Council should operate as a truly global governing body and should not allow any single country to influence such situations.
Afridi urged the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches to an alternative venue to ensure fairness and comfort for all teams involved.
With the ICC yet to respond to the matter, a hybrid model or a complete logistical shift involving rescheduling and restructuring the T20 World Cup 2026 currently looks improbable. However, if the ICC decides otherwise, the BCCI would need to act swiftly, with the opening match scheduled to begin on February 7.
