Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul applauds Pakistan PM for backing over T20 WC row

The T20 World Cup 2026 is yet to begin, but controversy has already taken centre stage, with uncertainty continuing over Pakistan’s refusal to play India in the tournament. The latest twist came after Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Advisor, Asif Nazrul, publicly thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for boycotting the India fixture in what he termed an act of solidarity with Bangladesh.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Nazrul acknowledged Pakistan’s stance and described it as a protest against Bangladesh’s exclusion from the multi-nation tournament.

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“Thank you, Pakistan,” he wrote, while sharing remarks made by Sharif during a cabinet meeting in Islamabad earlier this week.

During the meeting, Sharif explained Pakistan’s decision to skip the high-profile clash against India, scheduled for February 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

“Pakistan has decided not to play the match against India in protest of Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup,” Sharif was quoted as saying. He added that the move was taken after careful consideration, stressing that politics should not influence sporting contests and that Pakistan stood firmly with Bangladesh.

The Pakistan government had earlier confirmed that its national team would not take part in the group-stage encounter against India, intensifying concerns around the tournament’s integrity and scheduling.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) responded with a firm statement, urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to work towards a mutually acceptable solution. The governing body warned that selective participation goes against the very foundation of a global sporting event.

“While the ICC awaits official communication from the PCB, selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global tournament where all qualified teams are expected to compete as per the schedule,” the ICC said. It further cautioned that Pakistan’s stance could have significant long-term consequences for its own cricketing ecosystem and the global game at large.

Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup followed its government’s decision not to allow the team to travel to India, citing security concerns. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had requested that their matches be relocated to Sri Lanka, but the proposal was rejected by the ICC, leading to Scotland being named as their replacement.

With the tournament approaching, the India–Pakistan standoff remains unresolved, adding another layer of uncertainty to an event already overshadowed by off-field drama.