ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday said he briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the “International Cricket Council (ICC) matter,” adding that a final decision on Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup will be made either on Friday or next Monday.
According to a handout from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Naqvi met the premier in Islamabad earlier in the day.
“During the meeting, he briefed the prime minister on the recent situation regarding the ICC T20 World Cup and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB),” the handout said.
Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), described the meeting as “productive,” adding that the prime minister had directed all options to be kept on the table while resolving the matter.
The announcement comes after the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7, following Bangladesh’s refusal to tour India over security concerns amid strained political relations between the two countries. Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches to co-host Sri Lanka was rejected by the ICC, citing logistical constraints so close to the tournament.
Earlier, Naqvi had criticized the decision, calling it unfair to Bangladesh and stressing that Pakistan’s participation was still undecided pending the prime minister’s guidance.
The development has drawn concern from the global cricketing community. On Sunday, the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) said Bangladesh’s absence was a “sad moment for the game” and called on stakeholders to work towards unity in the sport. WCA Chief Executive Tom Moffat stated, “The withdrawal of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and the resulting absence of a valued cricketing nation from cricket’s pinnacle international T20 event, is a sad moment for our sport, the Bangladesh players and fans, and one that requires deep reflection.”
