Reporting snapshot · 18 January 2026. The review is based on sources cited by Geo News and has not been confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board, whose public position remains an offer to host Bangladesh's matches.
What happened
Pakistan is expected to reassess its participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, following increasing concerns related to the Bangladesh cricket team, sources told Geo News on Sunday 18 January 2026.
The Bangladesh government has reached out to Pakistan for support over its decision to skip travelling to India for the tournament, citing security concerns, the sources said. They added that Pakistan supports Bangladesh’s legitimate concerns and believes they should be addressed and acted upon, and that no country should face pressure or threats from India. Pakistan assured Bangladesh of its full support on the matter.
The reported review follows a decision by the Bangladesh Cricket Board earlier in January not to travel to India over security concerns. On 11 January, the Pakistan Cricket Board expressed its willingness to host Bangladesh’s matches in the tournament and formally communicated its interest in doing so should venues in Sri Lanka be unavailable, saying all Pakistani venues were fully prepared and pointing to its hosting of the Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC Women’s Qualifier.
Why it matters
The T20 World Cup is the sport’s marquee short-format event and is due to run from 7 February to 8 March 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. A change in Pakistan’s participation would be a significant complication for a tournament already grappling with travel and security logistics around the India-based matches.
According to the schedule, Bangladesh are in Group B with West Indies, England, Nepal and Italy, playing their matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. Ireland are in Group C alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe and Oman, with all fixtures in Sri Lanka. Bangladesh were set to play their first three group matches in Kolkata before finishing against Nepal in Mumbai.
What is still uncertain
The PCB has not confirmed that any review of Pakistan’s participation is under way, and the report rested on unnamed sources. Cricket Ireland has dismissed reports of a possible group swap with Bangladesh, saying the ICC will not move Ireland’s group-stage matches out of Sri Lanka; the BCB reportedly raised a group exchange with ICC officials in Dhaka on Saturday but the proposal drew little support. It was not clear by the editorial cutoff how Pakistan’s own participation would be affected if Bangladesh’s concerns were not resolved.
Sources & reporting notes
This article summarises published reporting and is not eyewitness reconstruction. Sources were reviewed on 18 January 2026.
- Geo News — Pakistan 'to review' T20 World Cup participation if BCB's concerns persist18 January 2026 · Sources' account of Pakistan's position, the PCB's 11 January hosting offer and the unchanged group schedule.
