Mohsin Naqvi backstabs Pakistan, confesses fear of Jay Shah’s ICC before PM in private meeting
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Days after the meeting between PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the discussions on their plans for the ICC T20 World Cup have been revealed, and Mohsin Naqvi's standpoint will shock you.
Pakistan have been constantly revolting against the ICC ever since the International body dismissed Bangladesh's claims to shift the venues from India to their co-host nation, Sri Lanka. ICC then announced Scotland as Bangladesh's replacement for the upcoming World Cup.
After the claims were made, the PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi made an announcement that they might be considering boycotting the ICC tournament as well and are awaiting the decision from their government.
Mohsin Naqvi mentions 'ICC' as his sole priority in front of the Prime Minister
The Pakistan Cricket Board's Chief, Mohsin Naqvi, has been one of the most controversial figures in world cricket recently, and his banters with the ICC on several issues since the Asia Cup have been an open secret.
However, ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Naqvi wants to mend his ways and has put it in the same way in front of the Pakistan Prime Minister. Pakistan does share a friendly relationship with the current Bangladesh government, and hence, they are considering backing the Bangladesh government's decision not to send their team to India for the T20 World Cup.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi discussed Pakistan's participation in the ICC T20 World Cup and clearly stated that a boycott was not on his mind, since he aims at improving the relations with the International body.
“When PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, he clearly conveyed that all options under consideration must ensure a stable and prosperous future for Pakistan cricket and preserve good relations with the ICC and member boards,” an insider said to the PTI.
"There is no restriction on India playing Pakistan in ICC events," Boycott rumours dismissed by PCB official
Following the meeting, the PCB is still awaiting the final decision from the PCB's end, and the official confirmation will be given on either Friday or Monday. Speculations had suggested that Pakistan might withdraw from the tournament and refuse to compete against India in the Group A fixture.
“The Indian government has refused to send its team to Pakistan, but there is no restriction on India playing Pakistan in ICC events or Asia Cup-level tournaments at neutral venues,” a source of the PTI said.
“So on what grounds can Pakistan justify boycotting the match against India when its government has consistently maintained that politics should not be mixed with sport?” he added.
PCB has announced their arrival dates for the T20 World Cup
While reports and speculations continue to pile up on the other front, the Pakistan Cricket Team have kept their T20 World Cup preparations on track. They recently defeated the mighty Aussies in the first T20I game ahead of the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
As per some reports from the PTI, the PCB has already booked travel arrangements for Pakistan. The squad will be flying off to Colombo on the 2nd of February and will be starting with their preparations. All their matches are in Sri Lanka, with India, the hosts, travelling to Colombo to play against Pakistan on the 15th.
“The PCB has already made travel arrangements for the World Cup squad to depart early morning on February 2 for Colombo,” sources close to the board told PTI.
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