The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has released a statement publicly requesting that Pakistan end its boycott of the February 15 match against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup. It also extended its ‘sincere appreciation’ to the Pakistan Cricket Board and its chief, Mohsin Naqvi, for showing ‘exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity’ and their roles in helping it ‘overcome recent challenges’.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) extends its sincere appreciation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and all involved for their positive roles in trying to overcome recent challenges. In particular, the BCB wishes to express its profound and heartfelt gratitude to PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, his Board and the cricket
fans of Pakistan. Throughout this period, the PCB has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity,” the statement said.
It was a clear nod at the PCB being the only board to support its demand to move its T20 World Cup matches out of India due to security concerns, in light of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). ICC rejected that, saying it had done an independent security check, and eventually ejected Bangladesh from the roster, replacing it with Scotland.
In response, Pakistan announced its boycott of the group stage game against India, calling ICC’s decision on Bangladesh an ‘injustice’. ICC had to arrange some back-channel negotiations to convince the PCB against the boycott — which also included reminders that by going ahead with the boycott, PCB would be in breach of its contractual agreements — where BCB was also involved.
The whole episode seems to have clearly brought Bangladesh and Pakistan, once bitter enemies, back together in a ‘brotherhood’.
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period,” BCB chairman MD Aminul Islam said in the statement. “Long may our brotherhood flourish. Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”
