Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 25: Threatened with unprecedented sanctions, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed to fall in line and ended its bluff of boycotting the coming T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh and on Sunday announced its 15-member squad for the tournament.
The announcement, made on Sunday, came shortly after the International Cricket Council (ICC) threatened the board of severe consequences if it decided to pull out of the tournament. In a major announcement, the PCB confirmed that Pakistan will participate in the tournament under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha, putting an end to the political uncertainty that threatened to overshadow the event.
The PCB’s decision to move forward comes despite the withdrawal of Bangladesh earlier this week. While there were whispers that Pakistan might follow suit, the selection committee, led by Aqib Javed and head coach Mike Hesson, has instead focused on a “balanced and aggressive” side for the tournament.
The most significant news for fans is the return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi. After being out of the squad during the recent T20I series, the veteran duo has been recalled to provide much-needed stability and firepower. Babar returns as the anchor of the batting line-up. Shaheen and Naseem Shah will lead a pace attack that remains one of the fastest in the world.
In a move that has sparked debate across social media, express pacer Haris Rauf has been omitted from the 15-member squad. Reports suggest his recent dip in form during the Asia Cup 2025 and specific fitness concerns influenced the decision. Similarly, veteran wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan has missed the cut following a quiet run in the Big Bash League (BBL).
The relationship between the PCB and the ICC had reached a breaking point following inflammatory comments from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and a potential boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh. Reports suggested that Pakistan could face unprecedented sanctions that would alter the landscape of its international cricket. The friction began when Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, accused the ICC of “double standards.” Naqvi’s comments stem from the ICC’s refusal to relocate Bangladesh’s matches out of India, despite having previously allowed a “hybrid model” for Pakistan’s matches.
Sources have said the ICC was “unhappy” with Naqvi’s confrontational approach, which included an alleged solidarity pact with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). By publicly challenging the ICC’s authority and suggesting Pakistan may withdraw from the T20 World Cup, Naqvi has miffed the sport’s global governing body.
If Pakistan followed through with its withdrawal, the ICC was reportedly prepared to impose unprecedented sanctions that could result in total cricketing isolation. These measures included a potential suspension of all bilateral series, exclusion from the Asia Cup, and a coordinated “No NOC” policy among member boards to prevent foreign stars from participating in the PSL. Such sanctions would not only cripple the PCB’s primary revenue streams but also devastate the commercial value of Pakistan’s domestic cricket, leaving the national team with no international fixtures outside of major ICC events.