Pakistan will now take the field against India in their T20 World Cup group match on February 15 after withdrawing its earlier boycott, with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi presenting the move as a stand in support of Bangladesh. The reversal ends a standoff that had overshadowed the tournament.Immediately after a Pakistan Super League press conference, Naqvi was asked by an interviewer for “inside details” on the boycott. His answers hinted at the coming reversal while carefully framing it as support for Bangladesh, not Pakistan’s own interests:Mohsin Naqvi: “Bas ab thodi der mein faisla ho jayega.” (A decision will be made in just a little while.)Interviewer: “Acchi khabar aa rahi hai?” (Is good news on the way?)Naqvi: “Hum to har waqt acchi khabar hi dete hain.” (We always provide good news.)Naqvi added: “Aapne Bangladesh ki statement dekhi hogi. Bangladesh ne request ki hai Pakistan se ki hum match khelein. Definitely, unka saara maamla tay hua hai, tabhi unhone ye request ki hai.” (You must have seen Bangladesh’s statement. Bangladesh requested Pakistan to play. Their issues are resolved, hence the request.)Interviewer: “Hamne apni kuch baat manwayi hai unse?” (Did we get them to agree to any of our own terms?)Naqvi: “Hamne Bangladesh ke liye stand liya tha. Unhi ki baat thi. Hamne apne liye kuch nahi kiya.” (We took a stand for Bangladesh. It was their matter. We didn’t do anything for ourselves.)The U-turn comes after intense discussions involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and cricket boards from Sri Lanka and the UAE, along with diplomatic appeals from Sri Lanka’s President.Mohsin Naqvi Statement on India Vs Pakistan match #PAKvIND #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/Mm523Uldb3— Ravish Bisht (@ravishbofficial) February 9, 2026BCB president Aminul Islam personally requested Pakistan to participate “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”According to a report, Naqvi also brushed aside suggestions that the PCB was under pressure from ICC threats. “You know we are not ones to be afraid of these threats at all. Everyone knows our Field Marshall (Asim Munir). We are not worried about any sanctions,” he said.It is understood that during his meeting with ICC deputy chair Imran Khawaja, Naqvi had placed a few demands, including resumption of Indo-Pak bilateral cricket and a tri-series involving Bangladesh to offset losses incurred by BCB after its ouster from the tournament. While Indo-Pak bilateral cricket isn’t under ICC’s purview, the demand for a tri-series was summarily rejected.The ICC also confirmed it will not penalise Bangladesh for refusing to play in India and reaffirmed the country’s status as a valued Full Member. As part of the understanding, Bangladesh will host an ICC event between 2028 and 2031, highlighting the ICC’s commitment to developing cricket in the country.
