Pakistan May Wear Black Armbands vs India in T20 World Cup To Support Bangladesh: Report

Pakistan's participation in the high-profile ICC Men's T20 World Cup clash against India in Colombo has received official clearance from the country's government, ending days of speculation over a potential boycott.

The decision was taken after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi held discussions with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to reports from IANS.

Earlier, uncertainty surrounded Pakistan's stance after reports suggested the PCB was weighing extreme options, including skipping the India match or even withdrawing from the tournament, in solidarity with Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had been replaced by Scotland in the World Cup schedule after declining to travel to India due

to security concerns, a move that triggered controversy within the cricketing community.

While the government has now approved Pakistan's participation, sources quoted by IANS confirmed that the team will go ahead with the match against India. However, the development has not entirely closed the chapter on protests. According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, Pakistan could adopt symbolic measures during the match to express support for Bangladesh. These may include wearing black armbands or issuing a public statement before the game.

Naqvi had earlier hinted that the PCB was still evaluating its options. In a post on X, he stated that discussions with the Prime Minister had been "productive" and that a final decision would be taken after considering all possibilities. The PCB chief, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister, is believed to be playing a key role in shaping the board's response to the ICC's decision.

With the marquee India-Pakistan clash set to go ahead, the focus has now shifted to how Pakistan might balance its participation in the tournament with its diplomatic stance. Whether symbolic gestures like black armbands materialise remains to be seen, but the episode has added a political undertone to one of cricket's most anticipated rivalries.