While the PCB awaits the “final call” on the T20 World Cup, Sanaullah believes Pakistan should support Bangladesh.

After Bangladesh decided not to travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah urged Pakistan to “stand with Bangladesh” on Saturday, pointing out the potential long-term benefits.

“I believe that we should support Bangladesh in this. Long-term, it will serve our interests,” he stated during an appearance on the “Naya Pakistan” show on Geo News.

However, the senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) admitted that a possible boycott of the competition would have financial consequences for Pakistani cricket.

“Perhaps we will receive less money. We can survive on less money, but if Pakistan supports Bangladesh today, the decision would have far-reaching effects,” he continued.

Due to Dhaka’s rejection to send a team to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, the ICC substituted Scotland for Bangladesh earlier in the day.

Soon after, Mohsin Naqvi, the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stated that the board would make decisions on tournament participation in accordance with the government’s orders.

“Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, is not in the nation at the moment. After he [the PM] comes to the nation, we will make the final decision public,” Naqvi continued.

Sanaullah, meantime, stated that Pakistan’s backing of Bangladesh might aid in bridging the historical divide between the two countries, which dates back to Dhaka’s collapse in 1971.

“We may enter a new phase of relations where Pakistan and Bangladesh are like two brothers,” he stated.

The PML-N leader emphasized that Pakistan should support Bangladesh as a nation, not any one political party or administration.

He cited the Indian cricket board’s decision to send Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman back from the Indian Premier League (IPL) without investigating his political involvement.

PCB is against Bangladesh being left out.
In addition to writing a letter to the ICC expressing support for the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) concerns, Pakistan has offered support to Dhaka in its decision to forgo travel to India.

In an interview with the media earlier today, the PCB chief claimed that the ICC had “treated unfairly” Bangladesh and that Pakistan would make the final announcement regarding its involvement only after getting orders from the government.

“I made the same statement during the ICC board meeting. You cannot have double standards, where one nation can act in any way at any time while doing the exact opposite for another,” Naqvi stated.

“The problem is that Bangladesh and Pakistan are both members. And our position is that you should treat Bangladesh the same way you treated India and Pakistan,” he continued.

Any attempt by “one country” to impose its will on another was denounced by Naqvi, who declared that Pakistan will take its own position in such a situation.

Tensions between Bangladesh and India
After rallies against her forced Bangladesh’s former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, to flee to New Delhi, relations between Bangladesh and India became strained.

Cricket has been affected by political issues.

Mustafizur Rahman, a bowler from Bangladesh who signed with the Kolkata team, was left out of this year’s IPL. In response, Bangladesh demanded that World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka and banned IPL broadcasts within the nation.

Concerning the safety and security of players and staff, the BCB also declined to send its squad to India, which is co-hosting the T20 World Cup 2026 with Sri Lanka.

The impasse is reminiscent of earlier conflicts in South Asian cricket.

Due to the tense political relations between the neighboring neighbors, who only face each other in ICC events, the Indian cricket board adhered to its policy of not touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy last year.

In order to rescue the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan, a “hybrid model” was decided upon, allowing India to play its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.

Pakistan’s 2026 T20 World Cup matches are slated to take place in Sri Lanka as part of the deal, which is valid until 2027.

On February 7, the 20-team World Cup is scheduled to start.