Only purpose was to get respect for Bangladesh, says PCB chief Naqvi after talks with ICC

2026-02-10 - 11:56

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday said in context of his recent engagements with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) officials that their purpose was to get respect for Bangladesh. Naqvi said this while speaking to the media in Peshawar a day the Pakistani government announced it was withdrawing its decision to boycott the group-stage match against India in T20 World Cup, scheduled for February 15. The development followed protracted negotiations between the ICC, the cricket boards of Pakistan and Bangladesh, consultations among national leaders and intercessions by friendly nations such as Sri Lanka and UAE. The now-withdrawn decision to boycott the match against arch-rival India was announced by the government on February 1 after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament, following their refusal to tour India over safety concerns in the wake of soured political relations between the Asian neighbours. The matter was raised during Naqvi’s media talk in Peshawar today, where he was asked about several conditions reportedly being put forward during his meeting with the ICC and BCB officials on Sunday. More to follow