LAHORE — Pakistan has ruled out any move to boycott the ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin next month, amid speculation that it could withdraw in solidarity with Bangladesh.
A source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said reports suggesting Pakistan might pull out if Bangladesh’s matches are not shifted out of India were unfounded. “Nope, this is not the PCB’s stand,” the source told RevSportz.
The source added that Pakistan has no valid grounds to withdraw, noting that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would point out that Pakistan is already scheduled to play its matches in Sri Lanka. “People just float such things to fire up the issue,” the source said.
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Earlier media reports in Pakistan had claimed that the PCB had paused preparations for the national team ahead of the tournament. Officials, however, said the team management would be briefed later on the way forward and had been asked to prepare a contingency plan should circumstances change.
The ICC is not expected to revise the tournament schedule, leaving the final decision with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Bangladesh has until 5pm (Dubai time) on January 21 to convey its position to the ICC.
If Bangladesh opts out of the tournament, it risks forfeiting points and facing financial penalties, as non-participation would breach participation clauses linked to the ICC’s revenue-sharing framework.
