PESHAWAR: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has clarified that Pakistan’s decision to face India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was made purely in the interest of cricket, with no political or personal considerations involved.
Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, Naqvi said the decision followed extensive discussions with the International Cricket Council after concerns raised by Bangladesh were resolved. He emphasized that Pakistan’s position throughout the talks was aimed at fairness and respect for all participating teams, particularly Bangladesh.
Naqvi said cricket should remain separate from politics and stressed that Pakistan supported Bangladesh after it faced an unfair situation related to its participation in the tournament. “Our objective was to ensure Bangladesh received due respect. There was no personal or political gain behind this decision,” he said.
Following the resolution, Pakistan is now scheduled to play India on February 15 in Colombo during the T20 World Cup.
He explained that once Bangladesh’s concerns were addressed and accepted by the relevant authorities, Pakistan agreed to proceed with the match. He added that the government supports keeping sports above political disputes and wants to promote cricket across the region.
On the future of Pakistan-India cricketing ties, Naqvi said developments would depend on circumstances but reiterated the desire to keep sporting engagements independent of political tensions.
Earlier, Pakistan had opted not to play India as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh after the Bangladeshi team was excluded from the tournament due to security-related travel concerns. The issue was later resolved after senior ICC officials held meetings in Lahore with representatives from both the PCB and BCB.
A government statement confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved Pakistan’s participation against India after being briefed on the outcome of the negotiations. Officials said the decision was taken to safeguard the spirit of cricket and ensure the smooth continuation of the global event.
The development was welcomed by Indian cricket officials, who described the outcome as beneficial for all stakeholders. They praised the ICC’s role in facilitating dialogue and expressed optimism about the successful conduct of the tournament.
Focus on Domestic Cricket
During his media interaction, Naqvi also highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic cricket. He announced the addition of two teams to domestic competitions and revealed increased prize money, with the champions set to receive Rs5 million and runners-up Rs2.5 million.
He noted that a significant number of players in the national setup come from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling it evidence of the province’s strong talent pool. The PCB is working with the provincial sports board to upgrade cricket facilities and establish academies.
Naqvi further disclosed plans to form two teams from the Peshawar region to ensure emerging players are not overlooked. He added that positive developments regarding hosting Pakistan Super League matches in Peshawar could be announced soon.
