Pakistan Cricket Board Shoots Letter To ICC Supporting BCB's Refusal To Play T20 World Cup In India

In a major development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly written a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) showing its support to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) stance of not willing to play their T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India. The communication was reportedly sent on Tuesday – just a day before an ICC board meeting that will take a final call on the crisis.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB has also kept the ICC board members in the loop, but the letter is unlikely to impact the global governing body’s decision.

While BCB has refused to budge, the ICC has also communicated to the board that the schedule for the marquee tournament, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will not be modified.

Why BCB Wants

Matches Shifted Out Of India?

Bangladesh are scheduled to play their group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. However, it has asked the ICC to shift its matches to Sri Lanka after their cricketer Mustafizur Rahman was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on BCCI’s instructions.

BCB cites security concerns in India as the reason behind its refusal to travel to the country. There was an outrage in India over Mustafizur’s IPL 2026 participation in the wake of the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

PCB’s Alleged Proposal

There have been unconfirmed reports of PCB allegedly offering to play host to the matches involving Bangladesh. Additionally, there were rumours that Pakistan may review its participation in the tournament depending on the outcome of BCB’s demand.

Crisis In Bangladesh

Bangladesh players boycotted all forms of cricket in the country after ex-chairman of its finance committee M. Nazmul Islam made disparaging remarks against the national players. Islam had said that the players will not be compensated if Bangladesh withdraws from the T20 World Cup. He had also claimed that the players should return the “crores and crores of takas” the board spends on them if they don’t perform well.

Prior to that, Nazmul had also labelled Bangladesh batting great Tamim Iqbal as an “Indian agent” after he said that the board should rethink its stance of not playing the World Cup in India.

The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) took exception to his remarks, demanding his resignation.