ISLAMBAD
\nThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) expressing support for Bangladesh\u2019s concern regarding travelling to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, just ahead of the governing body\u2019s meeting on the matter, ESPNcricinfo reported.
\nIn its correspondence, the PCB backed the Bangladesh Cricket Board\u2019s (BCB) reluctance to play matches in India amid regional political instability. Sources said that the letter was also circulated among ICC Board members.
\nThe ICC is reportedly set to make a final decision on Bangladesh\u2019s involvement in the 2026 men\u2019s T20 World Cup in its board meeting today (Wednesday).
\nThe ICC will deliberate on Bangladesh\u2019s request to relocate its World Cup fixtures to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns in India. However, it remains unclear whether the PCB\u2019s correspondence prompted the ICC to convene the meeting.
\nWhile the timing of the PCB\u2019s intervention has drawn attention, it is believed to have little bearing on the ICC\u2019s current position.
\nThe governing body has so far stood firm on maintaining the existing tournament schedule, not allowing Bangladesh to play its matches in Sri Lanka, one of the event\u2019s co-hosts alongside India, as requested.
\nThe ICC reiterated this stance to the BCB during discussions held last week. Backed by the Bangladeshi government, the BCB has maintained its refusal to travel to India for the group-stage fixtures.
\nDespite multiple rounds of talks between the ICC and the BCB, including a recent meeting in Dhaka over the weekend, neither side has shifted its position. The ICC continues to insist that the matches proceed as scheduled, while the BCB remains unwilling to send its team to India.
\nThe PCB\u2019s entry into the issue follows days of speculation about its potential role in resolving the deadlock. Unconfirmed reports suggested that Pakistan had offered to host Bangladesh\u2019s matches and that the PCB was even reconsidering Pakistan\u2019s own participation in the World Cup, depending on the outcome of Bangladesh\u2019s case.
\nThe PCB has so far made no public statement on the matter.
\nIndian media reported that Bangladesh had been told to agree to play in India by today or risk being kicked out of the tournament.
\nBut the Dhaka government said they would not be pressured into changing their stance. Bangladesh said they would not back down to \u201ccoercion\u201d and play their T20 World Cup matches in India, casting doubt on their participation. \u201cWe have logically requested a change of venue for valid reasons,\u201d Asif Nazrul, Youth and Sports Adviser in the Bangladesh interim government, told the state-run BSS news agency late Tuesday.
\n\u201cWe cannot be forced to play in India through illogical pressure or unreasonable coercion.\u201d Bangladesh captain Litton Das said he had no idea if the team would take part. \u201cFrom where I stand, I\u00b4m uncertain, everyone is uncertain,\u201d Das told reporters after a domestic match on Tuesday, asking back: \u201cAre you sure we will play the World Cup?\u201d \u201cI think at this moment, the whole of Bangladesh is uncertain,\u201d he added in comments reported by Dhaka\u00b4s Prothom Alo newspaper.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMBAD The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) expressing support for Bangladesh\u2019s concern regarding travelling to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, just ahead of the governing body\u2019s meeting on the matter, ESPNcricinfo reported. In its correspondence, the PCB backed the Bangladesh Cricket Board\u2019s (BCB) reluctance to play […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":527008,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-526995","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n