DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday shared details of its recent discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The talks focused on concerns linked to the upcoming T20 World Cup and related participation issues.
In an official statement, the ICC confirmed that Bangladesh will not face any penalty for not taking part in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The global cricket body said the decision was made after careful consideration of the circumstances raised by the BCB.
The ICC also announced that Bangladesh will get the opportunity to host a future ICC event. According to the statement, the Bangladesh Cricket Board is scheduled to host an ICC tournament between 2028 and 2031. This assurance was part of the broader discussions aimed at resolving ongoing concerns.
The talks took place a day earlier in Lahore. Senior officials from all three boards were present. ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja met PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while BCB President Aminul Islam also attended the meeting.
Sources said the negotiations lasted for more than five hours. During the discussions, Mohsin Naqvi highlighted Bangladesh’s concerns and played a key role in bridging communication between the ICC and the BCB. Several proposals were exchanged, and the ICC reportedly responded positively to Bangladesh’s demands.
Officials familiar with the matter said the ICC developed a formula to address the issues raised by Bangladesh. This helped reduce tensions surrounding the T20 World Cup schedule and participation.
Following the talks, Pakistan agreed to play the scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15. The decision came after a request from the President of Sri Lanka. The Bangladesh Cricket Board also urged Pakistan to play the match in the interest of cricket. In its statement, the BCB thanked PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his support.
Earlier, Pakistan had announced it would not play the match against India. This decision was taken in solidarity with Bangladesh. Bangladesh had cited security concerns in India and requested that its World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka.
The ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request and included Scotland in the tournament instead. This led Pakistan to refuse the February 15 match initially. Sources added that canceling the Pakistan–India T20 World Cup clash could have caused major financial losses for the ICC.
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The latest developments suggest efforts to protect the stability and commercial value of the T20 World Cup while addressing member concerns.
