The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a major call ahead of PSL 2026 by deciding not to sell the league’s broadcast rights in India. This is a clear shift from last season, when Sony Sports Network aired PSL 2025. The decision means Indian fans will not get official access to PSL matches this year. It comes at a time when cricket ties between the two nations remain strained.

The move follows Pakistan’s decision to boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 group match against India. That call was made on political grounds after talks between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the Pakistani government. Earlier, Pakistan had also refused to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns. As a result, the ICC decided to co-host the World Cup with Sri Lanka.

Reports in Pakistan suggest the PSL broadcast ban in India is linked to current political tensions. The Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB is believed to have taken a firm stand. While this blocks PSL viewership in India, it may also hurt the PCB financially. Indian audiences form a big part of cricket viewership in the region.

PSL 2026 to Clash With IPL, Franchises Change Strategy

In February last year, Sony Sports Network had secured the media rights for PSL 2025. Along with the league, the network also picked up rights for several Pakistan home series. These included white-ball series against Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, plus a full tour by South Africa. The Afghanistan series was later cancelled due to cross-border tensions.

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For PSL 2026, the league is set to run at the same time as IPL 2026. With the IPL dominating Indian screens, PSL visibility was already expected to be limited. The decision to keep the league off Indian television further reduces its reach. This could result in noticeable revenue losses for the PCB.

Another key update is that some PSL franchises are avoiding direct player signings this year. Instead, they are saving money for the PSL 2026 auction, which will take place next week during the ongoing T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, India-Pakistan cricket relations remain uncertain. Pakistan’s World Cup boycott means they lose two points, while the ICC and BCCI also miss out on one of cricket’s biggest fixtures.

The Pakistan cricket team has left for Sri Lanka to play in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. This comes even though the team may face action from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Pakistan has refused to play against India in the tournament.

A video shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board showed the players wearing their new World Cup kit. They were seen boarding a bus from a hotel in Lahore and heading to the airport. Even though Pakistan is co-hosting the tournament with India, the team will play all its matches in Sri Lanka because of political tension between the two countries.

On Sunday, Pakistan shocked the cricket world when the government told the team to take part in the World Cup but boycott the group-stage match against India.

Watch the video here: 

PAKISTAN TEAM LEAVES FOR SRI LANKA. 🇵🇰pic.twitter.com/vbQWWfOXN1

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) February 2, 2026

Pakistan leave for T20 World Cup amid India boycott row

Pakistan left for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka on Monday and is waiting to see if the ICC will take action. The issue comes after Pakistan refused to play against India in the tournament. A video shared by the PCB showed players wearing their new World Cup jersey as they travelled from a hotel in Lahore to the airport.

Even though India is a co-host of the World Cup, Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka. This includes any knockout games. The decision was taken due to political tension between the two countries. Pakistan created shock on Sunday when the government told the team to play in the World Cup but skip the group match against India in Colombo on February 15. No clear reason was given. Reports say the PCB has not officially informed the ICC yet.

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ICC warns of consequences

The ICC has warned Pakistan about possible punishment. It said that playing some matches and skipping others does not match the spirit of a global tournament. The ICC added that this decision is not good for world cricket or for fans, including those in Pakistan. Matches between India and Pakistan usually draw huge viewership and bring major income, as the two teams have not played a bilateral series for many years.

Players and PCB respond

The T20 World Cup will begin on Saturday, with Pakistan set to face the Netherlands. Pakistan will also play a warm-up match against Ireland on Wednesday in Colombo. After a 3-0 T20 series win over Australia in Lahore, captain Salman Ali Agha said the players would follow government orders. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi also criticised the ICC, calling its actions unfair. He pointed to past cases where teams faced different treatment due to government decisions.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially unveiled the national team’s jersey for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday after receiving approval from the Government of Pakistan to take part in the tournament. The launch followed a major political decision, as Pakistan announced it will boycott its group-stage match against India on February 15.

The government confirmed that the Pakistan team will travel to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup, which will run until March 8. However, the approval came with a condition that Pakistan will not play its Group A match against India on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The PCB is yet to formally inform the ICC, but the announcement has already drawn strong reactions.

The jersey launch took place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore after Pakistan’s third T20I against Australia. The event was earlier postponed due to uncertainty over participation and went ahead only after government clearance. Captain Salman Ali Agha, along with senior players Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Abrar Ahmed, presented the new jersey.

Watch the video here:

Paksitan t20 world cup jersey with a markhor touch pic.twitter.com/mhlsBaejdy

— Mustafa (@mustafamasood0) February 1, 2026

Pakistan Unveils “Vanguard Markhor Edition” Jersey

The new kit, named the “Vanguard Markhor Edition,” comes with a light green base and dark green designs. It clearly features Pakistan’s national animal, the Markhor. The PCB also released a short promotional video that highlighted themes of strength, resilience, and national pride.

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ICC Responds to Pakistan’s Boycott Decision

Pakistan’s decision to skip the match against India was shared through an official statement on X. The Government of Pakistan said it had allowed the team to take part in the tournament but confirmed that the side will not play against India. No official reason was given for the move.

Under ICC playing rules, Pakistan will lose two points from the match and also suffer a loss in net run rate. India’s points and net run rate will not be affected.

The ICC raised concerns over selective participation in a global tournament. In its statement, the governing body said such actions affect fairness, competition, and the spirit of the game. The ICC also warned that the decision could have long-term effects on Pakistan cricket and asked the PCB to find a mutually acceptable solution.

The PCB is in serious trouble, as it has come out that if Pakistan were to boycott the much-anticipated T20 World Cup clash against India in 2026, the broadcast companies will pursue a legal dispute against the PCB.

Indian-Pakistan matches have become incredibly lucrative for the PCB and cricket as a whole, and therefore if this match ever gets cancelled due to Pakistan's abstaining, that would result in an immense financial loss.

Tensions have been heightened ever since the ICC decided to remove Bangladesh from the tournament due to the BCB's unwillingness to send its national team to India. As a result of the ICC's decision, the PCB has shown great displeasure with that decision and has even alluded to the potential withdrawal of its participation. While the PCB has released its 15-man roster, it is still not official, and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi contends that the decision will come after consultation with the government of Pakistan.

While Pakistan is scheduled to play all their World Cup matches away from India, the PCB is reportedly in discussions regarding the possibility of only skipping the match against India just for symbolic reasons. However, in making this consideration, it has left the PCB with the uncomfortable position of weighing the political ramifications against the probable extreme sports and financial consequences.

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Television and radio broadcasters warn PCB of potential massive financial consequences.

According to reports, the estimated loss of approximately $38 million (USD) for broadcasters if the match between India and Pakistan does not go ahead as part of the tournament is significant enough for some media companies to be considering legal action against the PCB for the financial losses incurred due to the loss of potential advertising revenues, sponsorship opportunities, and branded content associated with the high-profile match.

The ICC has also issued a warning to PCB that it will impose severe punishment if the match does not take place, including the loss of all future bilateral cricketing relationships between India and Pakistan, as well as potential inhibitions on players from participating in PSL matches governed by the PCB. Therefore, the PCB will have limited options available to them. While PCB may maintain an aggressive position on the issue, it is believed that Pakistan will ultimately agree to play the match against India to avoid both of the potential problems outlined above.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This move comes despite earlier statements from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi about possibly boycotting the tournament. The threat was linked to Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland after refusing to travel to India due to security concerns. With the squad now named, Pakistan appear ready to take part, but doubts still remain.

Even after the squad announcement, the issue is not fully settled. Following Bangladesh’s removal, Naqvi had said the final call would rest with the Pakistan government. All of Pakistan’s group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka. This keeps the situation sensitive despite the team being picked.

The squad was revealed at a press conference held at the Gaddafi Stadium. PCB High Performance Director and selector Aaqib Javed, Agha, and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson addressed the media. During the briefing, Javed made it clear that participation is still not guaranteed. He said the selectors’ role ends with naming the team.

“We’ve Announced the Team, Government Will Decide”

“We are selectors, and our job is to pick the team. We've announced the team very close to the deadline,” Aaqib Javed said. He added, “The government will decide on our participation so I can say nothing on that front.” Javed also stated that this was in line with what the PCB chairman had already said. For now, the board is waiting for a final decision.

Salman Ali Agha has been named captain for the tournament, which will be held from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. The squad shows no major surprises, as most players are also part of the upcoming home T20 series against Australia. Medium pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr is the only notable omission from the Australia series squad.

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Pakistan have selected two specialist spinners, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, along with spin all-rounders Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub. Young batter Khawaja Mohammad Nafay also features despite having played only one T20I so far. Several players, including Agha, Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq, have earned their first major tournament call-up. Pakistan will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.

Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup:

Salman Ali Agha (c), Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.

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. 

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. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to make a final decision today on Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026, which will start on February 7. A day before this, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) became part of the controversy by writing to the ICC. They supported the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision not to send their team to India for the event, citing security concerns.

The timing of PCB’s email will raise questions, as it was also sent to members of the ICC Board, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo. The ICC has called a Board meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue, which has been pending for weeks.

However, PCB’s support for Bangladesh is not expected to change the ICC’s decision. The ICC is firm on not changing the World Cup schedule and plans to have Bangladesh play their matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC has made this clear to the BCB in earlier discussions.

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Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup Participation Hangs in the Balance

The two parties have met several times to discuss the issue, with the latest meeting held over the weekend in Dhaka. However, neither the ICC nor Bangladesh has changed their stance.

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Deadline Looms as Uncertainty Continues

The ICC has set January 21, Wednesday, as the final deadline to make a decision. This is to ensure that if Bangladesh pulls out, a new team will have at least 15 days to prepare for the T20 World Cup.

Interestingly, the PCB’s recent involvement comes amid speculation that they had offered to host Bangladesh’s World Cup matches in Pakistan. It was also reported that Pakistan’s participation in the tournament could depend on what happens with Bangladesh. However, none of these reports or speculations were confirmed by any PCB official.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das confirmed on Tuesday that the players are unsure about the situation and declined to comment on the team’s participation. “Are you sure that we are going to the World Cup? In reality, there is still a long time left before the World Cup, and we are not even sure whether we will go or not,” Das said.

He added, “If we had known who our group opponents were or which country we were going to, that would have helped,” while speaking to the media.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed that the PCB will temporarily run the Multan Sultans franchise after former owner Ali Tareen decided not to continue. The move comes as the franchise is expected to be sold again later this year.

Ali Tareen recently announced his exit from Multan Sultans, citing ongoing financial losses. His decision, made close to the new season, forced the PCB to step in and take full operational control of the team ahead of the Pakistan Super League 2026.

With no private owner in place, Multan Sultans will now be managed by the PCB for at least one season. The board plans to put the franchise back up for sale after showing that PSL team ownership can be financially rewarding.

PCB aims to prove Multan Sultans can make profit

Speaking to reporters, Mohsin Naqvi said he turned down immediate offers to sell the team because he wanted to prove a point. He said the PCB has taken this as a challenge to counter claims that the franchise was running at a loss. “I took a challenge, and that is that there were a lot of claims on social media that the team was in losses. So, I, and all of the team, decided that we will show you how much profit this business offers and publish the numbers before going for the auction. The pressure has started to build up on me to sell out the team.”

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Naqvi added that he wants the PCB to manage the Multan Sultans for one full year before handing it over to a new owner. He believes this will give potential buyers confidence in the business model of the PSL “But my wish is to operate Multan Sultans for one year, and I'm very much hopeful that we would leave it in profit so the world gets to know that it's a plus-plus business.”

The PSL 2026 season is scheduled to run from March 23 to May 3 and will be played alongside the IPL 2026. The PCB hopes that a strong season on and off the field will increase the value of the Multan Sultans franchise before it goes up for auction again.

Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has revealed that repeated “humiliation” by the Pakistan Cricket Board forced him to step down as Pakistan’s Test coach. The 50-year-old resigned from the role last year, just eight months into his tenure.

Gillespie made the revelation during a question-and-answer session on X (formerly Twitter). He explained that a key decision taken without his knowledge became the breaking point in his coaching stint with Pakistan.

During his time in charge, Gillespie oversaw mixed results. Pakistan suffered a 2-0 home Test series loss to Bangladesh but later bounced back strongly to defeat England 2-1 at home. He also had to make tough calls, including dropping Babar Azam from the playing XI due to poor form.

Gillespie Explains What Went Wrong With PCB

Explaining his decision to quit, Gillespie wrote, “I was coaching the Pakistan Test side. The PCB sacked our senior assistant coach with ZERO communication with me about it- as Head Coach, I found this situation completely unacceptable. There were a number of other issues that left me completely humiliated.”

I was coaching the Pakistan Test side. The PCB sacked our senior assistant coach with ZERO communication with me about it- as Head Coach I found this situation completely unacceptable.
There were a number of other issues which left me completely humiliated.@stillnotoutpod https://t.co/AqATYAfiyg

— Jason Gillespie (@dizzy259) January 1, 2026

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He also spoke about his disappointment with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during a planned “Connection Camp,” which was meant to bring the team closer. Gillespie said the idea came from Gary Kirsten, who travelled from South Africa to attend the camp. Recalling the incident, Gillespie said, “Gary (Kirsten) came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in the Pakistani cricket team basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialled in Zoom.”

He added, “He is based in Lahore, but he did not come, while Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the Chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here - that was a bit unusual.” According to a recent PTI report, instability has continued after Gillespie’s exit, with Azhar Mahmood also being removed as Test coach despite three months remaining on his contract.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will host a special reception for the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team after their victory over India in the Asia Cup final held in Dubai. The win is being seen as a rare and proud moment for Pakistan cricket, especially at the junior level.

The Under-19 team was greeted with a huge welcome upon their return to Islamabad, as they were given a reception that is usually reserved for senior sides returning to the country. This shows how significant an achievement this was for Pakistan and how much it means to both supporters and officials.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, called this win a big achievement for Pakistan cricket. Junior cricket often does not get much attention in the country, but this victory against India brought the young players into the spotlight.

Young Heroes Praised as PCB Announces Big Rewards

Batter Sameer Minhas, who scored a match-winning 172 in the final, and fast bowler Ali Reza, who took four wickets, have been praised as future stars of Pakistan cricket. Their performances were key to the team’s success in the final.

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Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister, has been involved in an ongoing issue since the senior Asia Cup. During the tournament in Dubai, the Indian team reportedly refused to take the winners’ trophy from him at the presentation ceremony.

That trophy is still kept at the Asian Cricket Council offices in Dubai, with the matter yet to be settled. Reports also say that Naqvi has announced a cash prize of PKR five million for each Under-19 player, a reward that is very rare for junior cricketers in Pakistan and highlights the importance of this historic win.