As the ICC prepares to decide Bangladesh's participation in the 2026 men's T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has thrown its weight behind the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
On Tuesday, PCB wrote to the ICC supporting BCB's refusal to play group-stage matches in India due to political turmoil and security concerns, copying all ICC Board members. This came a day before the ICC's crucial Wednesday Board meeting, though it's unclear if the email prompted it.
The BCB, backed by the Bangladesh government, insists on shifting its games to Sri Lanka, but the ICC remains firm - play in India or forfeit points. Multiple meetings, including one in Dhaka last weekend, have yielded no compromise. As the January 21 deadline looms, just weeks before the tournament, Pakistan have decided to weigh in for Bangladesh.
Why are Pakistan meddling in Bangladesh's matter?
The PCB's sudden intervention, via a pointed email to the ICC, arrives amid weeks of speculation about Pakistan hosting Bangladesh's matches or even reconsidering its own participation.
This "late involvement," as described, aligns with unverified reports of such offers, signalling calculated diplomacy rather than altruism. Historically tense India-Pakistan relations, exacerbated by no bilateral cricket since 2012, frame PCB's move as opportunistic support for a fellow subcontinental board challenging Indian dominance.
Pakistan have irked out a deal for the Hybrid Model in tournaments hosted in India, and with their support, Bangladesh may have a certain boost in their demand. PCB have historically been run by opportunistic, impatient and myopic personnel, and the latest leadership under Mohsin Naqvi is no different.
Strategic Gains for Pakistan
By amplifying Bangladesh's security concerns, PCB underscores regional instability tied to India's political climate, potentially eroding BCCI's hosting narrative and pressuring ICC to accommodate neutral venues like Pakistan or Sri Lanka. By supporting BCB, the ploy is to attempt an offence against BCCI, who hold a strong clout in the ICC.
With ICC elections looming, PCB gains visibility among voting members, diluting India's veto-like sway on scheduling. Critics may view this as meddling, but it fits PCB's playbook of leveraging crises for concessions.
