The Pakistan Cricket Board hopes to decide within the next two days whether Babar Azam’s side will take the field against India on 15 February in the men’s T20 World Cup.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Monday that the board is still waiting on guidance from the ICC and from Islamabad.
“We have had discussions with them (the ICC),” Naqvi said. “It would not be right for me to make any comments right now. Once we get their (the ICC’s) response, we will decide. We will go back to the PM (Shehbaz Sharif) for advice once the ICC replies. An announcement will come tomorrow or day after tomorrow.”
That leaves the high-profile group-stage fixture—already pencilled in for the MCG—hanging in the balance. The uncertainty is awkward for organisers, broadcasters and, of course, for supporters who have booked travel on the assumption that the marquee encounter would go ahead as scheduled.
Over the weekend Naqvi met ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja and Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam in Lahore. Islam used the visit to make a formal appeal for Pakistan to play.
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish,” Islam said.
“Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket eco system.”
Behind the scenes, administrators are juggling security assessments, political considerations and purely cricketing logistics. No one wants to forfeit the two points—under tournament rules the side that declines to play would be docked them—yet neither board wishes to be seen giving ground on matters of principle.
Tournament planners are believed to have a provisional back-up schedule, although switching venues or pushing the match further into the group phase would have knock-on effects for net run-rates and rest days. One senior organiser, speaking privately, admitted the window for a clean solution is “shrinking by the hour”.
India, for their part, have remained publicly silent since the initial doubts surfaced. Team management are said to be preparing as normal, treating the Pakistan game as a certainty until told otherwise.
From a cricket perspective, the fixture could shape Group B. A Pakistan victory would likely ease their path into the Super Eights. Equally, an India win would relieve some early pressure on Rohit Sharma’s men before they face Bangladesh and an ever-improving Afghanistan.
For now, players of both teams must wait. A call in the next 24-48 hours—Naqvi’s own deadline—should finally give clarity. Whatever happens, the fallout is sure to ripple beyond this World Cup and into future bilateral discussions.
More detail is expected once the ICC responds; until then, the ball remains firmly in the administrators’ court.
