'You can't have double standards..' - PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi sends out warning to ICC after Bangladesh exit from T20 World Cup 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has sent out a warning message to the ICC ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced Bangladesh's replacement for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has sent out a warning message to the ICC ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is experiencing a lot of drama before even beginning the tournament. India and Sri Lanka are set to jointly host the tournament between February 7 and March 8, 2026.
While the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has shown desperation in not playing the tournament in India, citing the "safety and well-being of the players" in India, they wanted last moment venue shift for their matches in the tournament to Sri Lanka. Despite the ICC and BCCI assuring the BCB of complete safety, the BCB didn't move from their desperate decision.
Last week, the ICC had a crucial meeting regarding the BCB's stance, where only the PCB reportedly supported the BCB's demand. Ultimately, the ICC announced that if Bangladesh stayed with their decision not play the tournament in India, Scotland would replace them for the tournament. The BCB stuck to their decision, as the ICC officially announced Scotland as the replacement for Bangladesh for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 on Saturday (January 24).
You can't have double standards: Mohsin Naqvi
After the ICC's latest official announcement, the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has sent out a warning message to the ICC by calling the double-standard action. He openly supported the BCB's decision and feels the ICC has done an injustice to the board.
Naqvi said, "I think Bangladesh has been hard done by. You can't have double standards. You can't say for one country [India] they can do whatever they want and for the others to have to do the complete opposite. That's why we've taken this stand, and made clear Bangladesh have had an injustice done to them. They should play in the World Cup; they are a major stakeholder in cricket."
See Also: ICC release new schedule following Bangladesh exit from T20 World Cup 2026
It's the government's decision: PCB chief about their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 participation
Meanwhile, Naqvi has also openly threatened the tournament, as he called the Pakistan government would take the final decision on their participation for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. It is important to note that Pakistan will play all their matches of the tournament in Sri Lanka, as if they qualify for the Semi-final and Final, Sri Lanka will host their matches.
Naqvi claimed, "Our stance [on World Cup participation] will be what the government of Pakistan instructs me. The Prime Minister is not in Pakistan right now. When he returns, I'll be able to give you our final decision. It's the government's decision. We obey them, not the ICC."
It is not the first time the open clash between PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and the BCCI as well as the ICC. During the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final, where India lifted the trophy after beating New Zealand, the PCB chief was absent from the venue without providing any official information to the ICC. As Pakistan was the main host, along with the United Arab Emirates (for India's matches), the PCB chief had the duty to hand over the trophy to the champions.
In the Asia Cup 2025, during the India vs Pakistan handshake row, the PCB chief, who is also the chief of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), also showed his desperation. In the Final of the tournament, where India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets, while the Indian players refused to take the trophy from the ACC chief and would reportedly accept the trophy from someone else, Naqvi moved out with the trophy as the Indian players couldn't lift the trophy.
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