The ICC T20 World Cup faces mounting uncertainty as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly suspended all team preparations on Monday. The board has asked team management to prepare a “contingency plan” should Pakistan reconsider its participation in the tournament.
The move reflects Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh, whose involvement is in doubt due to security concerns at the Indian venues.
PCB officials described Bangladesh’s apprehensions as “reasonable and valid” and signalled that Pakistan may reassess its own participation if these issues are not addressed.
The PCB has even proposed hosting Bangladesh’s matches as an alternative, though options appear limited after Cricket Ireland rejected a suggested group swap, confirming their commitment to playing in Sri Lanka.
The situation has brought the standoff to a critical stage, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) required to decide by 21 January whether their team will travel to India or forfeit their fixtures. In the event Bangladesh opts out, the ICC is expected to nominate Scotland, based on rankings, as a replacement.
Despite Bangladesh’s demands for venue changes, the ICC continues to maintain that there is “no specific threat” to the team, keeping the original schedule intact.
