Cricket in Crisis: Pakistan and Bangladesh Unite in T20 World Cup Boycott Against India

Observers warn that if Pakistan and Bangladesh continue to withdraw from matches against India, it could lead to the extinction of the game, which is currently only played by approximately 8 to 10 countries.

RMN News Sports Desk
New Delhi | February 8, 2026

A high-stakes standoff is threatening the integrity of the T20 World Cup as Pakistan and Bangladesh align in a diplomatic and sporting boycott against India, prompting emergency intervention from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Emergency Talks in Lahore

On February 8, 2026, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul arrived in Lahore to meet with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) head Mohsin Naqvi. The meeting took place just hours before a scheduled ICC crisis session—to be held via Zoom—aimed at convincing Pakistan to overturn its boycott of the high-revenue fixture against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

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The Roots of the Dispute

The current crisis began when Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns. When the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its fixtures to Sri Lanka and replaced the team with Scotland, it triggered a chain reaction.

In a show of solidarity, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the PCB to skip the India match, stating that “there should be no politics on the sports field”. Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, publicly thanked Pakistan for backing Dhaka’s stance against what he described as being excluded from the tournament.

Financial and Sporting Consequences

The ICC is scrambling to broker a deal because the India vs. Pakistan match is the sport’s most lucrative fixture. A cancellation would result in a massive hit to broadcasting revenue, devaluing the tournament and reducing the annual disbursements provided to all member boards, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Long-standing Political Tensions

This escalation follows a controversial Asia Cup final in September 2025, where India defeated Pakistan to win their ninth championship. Following that victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew sharp criticism for a post on X (formerly Twitter) celebrating “Operation Sindoor” on the field.

Critics argue that such rhetoric uses communal slurs and “poisoned the minds” of Indian cricketers by involving them in “dirty politics”. Observers warn that if Pakistan and Bangladesh continue to withdraw from matches against India, it could lead to the extinction of the game, which is currently only played by approximately 8 to 10 countries.