The Bangladesh Cricket Board have requested Pakistan to play their 2026 T20 World Cup game against India, scheduled for February 15.
BCB president requests Pakistan to play India game
The BCB thanked Pakistan for showing solidarity after they were replaced by Scotland at the 2026 T20 World Cup. The board’s president, Aminul Islam also requested them to reverse their boycott of the match against India in Colombo.
"We are deeply moved by Pakistan's efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish,” Islam noted in a BCB media release. “Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on February 15 against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”
Also read: Pakistan boycott India match at the T20 World Cup: What next, and will it even matter?
The BCCI had ordered Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from his contract after communal tensions boiled over in Bangladesh, who then declined to travel to India, citing security concerns. They requested that their World Cup games be moved to Sri Lanka, but the ICC did not agree, and Bangladesh were ultimately evicted from the tournament.
The Pakistan government, in solidarity with Bangladesh, then decided to boycott their highly anticipated game against India. They are yet to comment on the recent development from the BCB and ICC.
No penalties or sanctions on Bangladesh for refusing to travel to India for T20 World Cup 2026
In the latest development, the ICC also announced that there will be no sanctions or penalties imposed on Bangladesh for not agreeing to play the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. It has also been agreed that the Asian side will also host an ICC event before the 2031 men's ODI World Cup. The global body added that this "reflects the shared objective of facilitative support rather than punishment."
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta added, "Bangladesh’s absence from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is regrettable, but it does not alter the ICC’s enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation.
"Bangladesh remains a priority cricket ecosystem deserving of long-term investment in its development, competitiveness and global integration, and is not defined by short-term disruptions."
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