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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to finalize whether the cricket team will boycott the February 15 T20 World Cup match against India, following ICC-PCB discussions and government involvement.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to take final call on India-Pakistan T20 WC match stand-off

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to finalize whether the cricket team will boycott the February 15 T20 World Cup match against India, following ICC-PCB discussions and government involvement.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to request his Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to withdraw the boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India after being requested to do so by his Bangladesh counterpart, a PCB source has revealed.
Naqvi is set to brief Sharif on the latest developments on the issue later on Monday. The game against India is scheduled to be held in Colombo on February 15.
"Naqvi will brief the PM on the communications he has had with the Bangladesh, Sri Lankan and Emirates cricket boards and with the ICC on the crisis," the source said.
Bangladesh Cricket Board President, Amin ul Islam was in Lahore for the talks Naqvi had with Imran Khawaja, vice chairman and independent director of the ICC, on Sunday.
Sri Lanka and Emirates board have both urged the country to review its decision and the PCB source confirmed that Islam, while appreciating the support Pakistan has shown for Bangladesh cricket, also requested Naqvi to end the boycott.
He said that Naqvi is likely to ask the PM to permit the team to play India in the World Cup in view of the discussion and appeals from Sri Lanka, Emirates and Bangladesh boards. However, the final decision rests with Sharif and the PCB would abide by it.
The source said that during talks with Khawaja, Naqvi had raised a number of issues. "He questioned Khawaja if the ICC had kept quiet if the Pakistan team had refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy at the presentation from any Indian board official," the source said.
The trophy lies locked at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai after Naqvi, who currently heads the body, made it clear that only he would carry out the presentation formalities in full media glare.
Bangladesh were ousted from the World Cup after refusing to play in India citing security concerns.

Pakistan faces USA in a high-stakes T20 World Cup rematch in Colombo, aiming to recover from past defeat, with both sides seeking stronger batting and pressure handling in the evening game.

Pakistan Seeks Redemption Against USA in T20 World Cup Clash

Pakistan vs USA: T20 World Cup Showdown

Pakistan faces USA in a high-stakes T20 World Cup rematch in Colombo, aiming to recover from past defeat, with both sides seeking stronger batting and pressure handling in the evening game.

An unpredictable Pakistan will look to exorcise ghosts of the past when they meet a determined USA, 20 months after being handed an infamous defeat by the same opponents, in the T20 World Cup in Colombo on Tuesday.
During their World Cup debut in 2024, USA announced their arrival on the big stage with a memorable victory over the Pakistanis. Having lost to India in the 2026 opener, USA would be extra motivated for an encore against Pakistan in an evening game at the Sinhalese Sports Club here.
Both teams have work cut out on the batting front. Pakistan were cruising in their chase of 148 against The Netherlands before a suicidal middle-order collapse. Thanks to Faheem Ashraf, they got over the line but would be thoroughly shaken by the implosion. USA had defending champions India under pressure at the Wankhede but their batters could not complement an impressive bowling performance.
For Pakistan, Babar Azam will be under the scanner having made a comeback in the shortest format. More from the bat will be expected from opener Saim Ayub as well. Ayub has been more productive as a spinner in the recent past. Captain Salman Ali Agha feels his players need to handle pressure better than how they did against The Netherlands.
"We batted really well. And then they managed to pull wickets down. And then at that time, the pressure came in. And I think we need to absorb pressure better when it comes to these kinds of games. It's not easy to start, but once you get in, it's a good wicket to bat on. When someone gets in, we need to make sure that person will finish," said Agha, who also needs to deliver with the bat after his move up the order.
USA will be looking for an improved batting effort at the top of the order. By captain Monank Patel's own admission, they were guilty of playing loose shots in the powerplay against India. Monank too fell to a soft dismissal. Led by South Africa-born Shadley Van Schalkwyk, they had a good night with the ball. However, senior pacer Saurabh Netravalkar had an opening game to forget and would be itching to make an impact against Pakistan.
USA practised in Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC event and are familiar with the conditions. Question marks remain over the fitness of their pacer Ali Khan who limped off the field against India.
"I thought the intent (with the bat) was a bit missing there because we lost a few wickets initially. But a lot of learning from this game and a lot of positives. And definitely this game is going to help us in running forward," said Monank following the loss to India.
Squads: USA: Monank Patel (c), Jessy Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley Van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane.
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Match starts 7 PM.

A resolution on the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match boycott is expected within hours after ICC, PCB, and BCB officials held talks in Lahore, according to Pakistan media reports.

Breakthrough expected soon in India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match standoff

A resolution on the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match boycott is expected within hours after ICC, PCB, and BCB officials held talks in Lahore, according to Pakistan media reports.

A resolution to the standoff over the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup 2026 is expected soon following high-level discussions involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), according to reports in Pakistani media.
Pakistan media outlets reported that the dispute is likely to be resolved through mutual consultation within the next 24 hours. Geo TV stated that the PCB is set to consult the Pakistan government for clear guidance on the issue, after which a formal announcement is expected.
An ICC delegation led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja, along with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCB President Aminul Islam, met in Lahore on Sunday to discuss Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to boycott the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, scheduled to be played on February 15 in Colombo.
According to Pakistani media reports, the lengthy negotiations have concluded, and a roadmap for resolving the dispute has been finalised between Imran Khawaja, Mohsin Naqvi, and Aminul Islam. The matter is expected to be settled through mutual consultation in the &ldquo;next few hours&rdquo;.
The latest development follows an announcement by the official X handle of the Pakistan government stating that the Men in Green would not take the field for the February 15 clash. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later linked the boycott to the controversy involving Bangladesh, describing it as a symbol of solidarity.
Earlier, Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the 2026 T20 World Cup after their request to play all matches outside India was not accepted by the ICC. The request was reportedly made following the removal of Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad on the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amid concerns related to atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the ICC is understood to have asked the PCB to demonstrate the steps it had taken to mitigate the &lsquo;Force Majeure&rsquo; situation, as required under the Members Participation Agreement (MPA). According to ESPNCricinfo, the ICC received an email from the PCB citing government orders as the reason for its proposed boycott. The communication was sent less than 10 days before the start of the tournament.
The ICC is also believed to have laid out detailed conditions under which &lsquo;Force Majeure&rsquo; can be legitimately invoked, including the evidentiary threshold for non-participation, as well as the sporting, commercial, and governance implications of such a move.
The global governing body has reportedly informed the PCB about the potential material damage it could suffer if the match does not take place. While the ICC is keen to avoid confrontation, its constitution allows for the suspension or termination of membership in cases of serious breaches of obligations.
The PCB, however, believes that it has a strong case if the dispute escalates. Officials have reportedly referred to a previous dispute with the BCCI that was taken to the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) over a bilateral series.
The dispute related to allegations that the BCCI failed to honour a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two boards to play six bilateral series between 2013 and 2015. Although the PCB lost its claim for damages, it maintains that the Indian government&rsquo;s refusal to grant permission for the series at the time sets a precedent, according to ESPNCricinfo.
With consultations continuing among the ICC, PCB, and BCB, stakeholders are hopeful that a final decision on the high-profile India-Pakistan clash will be announced in the coming hours.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi met ICC and Bangladesh officials in Lahore as talks intensified to resolve the standoff over Pakistan’s proposed boycott of the India match in the T20 World Cup.

PCB chief Naqvi meets BCB president Aminul and ICC deputy chair Khwaja in Lahore

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi met ICC and Bangladesh officials in Lahore as talks intensified to resolve the standoff over Pakistan&rsquo;s proposed boycott of the India match in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday met his Bangladesh counterpart Aminul Islam and ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja in Lahore, even as efforts to resolve the standoff over Pakistan's proposed boycott of the high stakes T20 World Cup match against India gather pace.
The meeting, images of which were released by the PCB, took place at the Gaddafi Stadium. Khwaja arrived in Lahore for talks with PCB officials amid growing indications that the deadlock over the high-profile February 15 clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Colombo could be resolved, paving the way for the match to go ahead.
Khwaja, who represents Singapore in the ICC, is an influential figure in the world governing body and has voting rights on the board as an associate member director. A source close to the PCB confirmed Khwaja has been nominated by the ICC board as a mediator on the controversial subject.
"He has been in talks with Mohsin Naqvi for a while now and he is reaching Lahore today to first talk to the PCB chief and also the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President, Aminul Islam," the source said.
Aminul is expected to be part of the discussions aimed at persuading Pakistan to reconsider its decision not to play India in the World Cup. The two officials -- Khwaja and Aminul -- were greeted at the airport by senior PCB officials and then driven to the Gaddafi Stadium.
A PCB source said that Khwaja and Aminul, after their discussion with Naqvi, will have a meeting with some ICC governing board members virtually later Sunday. The source said the ICC was doing its best to convince PCB to get permission from its government for the February 15 match.
Aminul reached Lahore ahead of Khwaja and his presence is significant because the dispute between the PCB and ICC began because of the apex body's decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the former refused to play their World Cup matches in India citing security reasons.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif recently said that Pakistan's decision to not play against India was taken to show solidarity with Bangladesh, whose request to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka was rejected by the ICC.
Naqvi has not commented much on the instructions from the government to boycott the India match but a reliable source said the situation has changed after the Sri Lankan cricket board sent an email to the PCB, urging them to end the boycott.
ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta has also been to Colombo to meet with the President of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Shammi Silva who sent the email to Naqvi to play the India match in the World Cup.
The ICC has already sought an explanation from Pakistan on how the 'Force Majeure' clause can be invoked to justify the team's refusal to play the T20 World Cup match against India after the PCB tried to wriggle out of the situation by putting the onus on its government.
But there is a glimmer of hope now as PCB has approached the ICC for deliberations, as per an ICC Director, who feels that the marquee clash will eventually take place.
The ICC is currently engaging with the board in a structured manner to explore possible resolutions, with a view that the interest of the game must supersede unilateral action.
Sri Lanka Cricket has warned PCB to reconsider its decision citing huge financial losses for all stakeholders.
The trigger for Bangladesh's withdrawal was the release of their pacer Mustafziur Rahman from the KKR squad on BCCI's instructions.

A suicide bomber targets Khadijatul Kubra Shia mosque in Islamabad, killing 31 and injuring nearly 170. Attacker linked to TTP; security forces and hospitals respond to the emergency.

31 killed, 169 injured in suicide attack at Shia mosque in Pakistan's capital Islamabad

A suicide bomber targets Khadijatul Kubra Shia mosque in Islamabad, killing 31 and injuring nearly 170. Attacker linked to TTP; security forces and hospitals respond to the emergency.

A suicide bomber blew himself up at a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, killing at least 31 people and injuring nearly 170 others, officials said.
The powerful explosion took place at Khadijatul Kubra mosque-cum-imambargah in the Tarlai area of Islamabad, the police said in a statement. The suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the imambargah, but he detonated himself, police and eyewitnesses said.
At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured in the explosion, a district administration spokesperson said in a post on X. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast. However, police sources said that the attacker was a foreign national and had links with Fitna al Khwaraji, a term used for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In a post on X, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon earlier said that more than 80 people were injured in the blast, while 15 bodies were shifted to different hospitals.
Police and Rescue 1122 personnel reached the site of the incident and initiated rescue operations. The army troops and Rangers have cordoned off the area, and security operations are underway in and around the site of the blast.
An emergency was declared in the hospitals of the capital to deal with the situation, as the injured were being shifted to hospitals. The attack came less than three months after a suicide bomber killed 12 people in a blast outside a district and sessions court building in Islamabad.
Today's attack came when Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was visiting Pakistan. He arrived on a two-day state visit on Thursday.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas condemned the attack. &ldquo;Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,&rdquo; Zardari said.
Strongly condemning the attack, Abbas said that targeting places of worship is a direct attack on humanity, religion and social values, which cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
According to police officials, the nature of the explosion was being probed, but the explosion seems to be a suicide attack.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad and met the injured.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry strongly condemned the attack in a post on social media platform X, expressing grief over the loss of lives in the &ldquo;cowardly act&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Such acts of terrorism cannot dampen the morale of the nation. The need of the hour is that we all stand united for peace, tolerance, and stability, and express solidarity with law enforcement agencies,&rdquo; the minister stressed.
Chaudhry is a native of Islamabad and belongs to the area where the blast occurred.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav says team will travel to Colombo for ICC T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite Pakistan government boycotting the match.

'Our flight is booked, we are going there': Suryakumar on India's T20WC match against Pak

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav says team will travel to Colombo for ICC T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite Pakistan government boycotting the match.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Thursday said his team will travel to Colombo for its ICC T20 World Cup match against Pakistan even though the neighbouring country has announced a boycott of the game.&nbsp;
India are scheduled to face the arch-rivals in February 15 but Pakistan's cricket team has been told by its government to skip the game after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for refusing to play in India on account of "security concerns".&nbsp;
"I feel their decision is not in my control. I wish I could take their decisions call but it is their call. We had played in the Asia Cup as well and we played them three times," Suryakumar said during the pre-tournament captains' press meet in Mumbai.&nbsp;
The World Cup begins on Saturday and India will take on USA in its opening match on the same evening.&nbsp;
"Our mindset is pretty clear. We have not said no (to playing against Pakistan). They have. ICC has given the fixture. Our flight is booked and we are going there (to Colombo)," "The team discussion is that we are playing first on February 7, then we will go there," he added.&nbsp;
"We played some good cricket against them. We have been told that the game is on 15th, the game is at a neutral venue and if we get an opportunity we will play. It's a difficult call for them (Pakistani players) as well," he observed.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended the decision to skip the T20 World Cup match against India, calling it a considered move in support of Bangladesh.

Decision to boycott India game appropriate, we're with Bangladesh: Pak PM Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended the decision to skip the T20 World Cup match against India, calling it a considered move in support of Bangladesh.

Calling Pakistan's boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India an "appropriate decision, the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that it was a "considered stance" to support Bangladesh.
Pakistan's cricket team has been told by the government to skip the February 15 game in Colombo after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for refusing to play its games in India on account of "security concerns".
"We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won't play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field,&rdquo; Sharif stated after a government meeting in Karachi.
"We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision. We are with Bangladesh," he added.
In response, Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul posted "Thank You, Pakistan" on his official Facebook page, while quoting Sharif's statement.
A livid ICC has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of serious consequences if it fails to show up for the high-profile match, which is a money magnet at the big event for sponsors, broadcasters and advertisers.
The world body has hoped that the PCB will "consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of."
Pakistan has reached Colombo for its other preliminary engagements, starting with a game against the Netherlands on Saturday.
The country's cricket board has already made it clear that it supports the government's position and would go by its advice even if a rematch against India crops up during the knockout stage.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had stated that the decision to drop Bangladesh was not fair and their security concerns should have been addressed.
The ICC's security assessment of Indian venues had placed the threat perception for Bangladesh in the low to moderate category.
Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India for its share of matches came after its pacer Mustafizur Rahman was ousted from the IPL on BCCI's instructions.
The Indian Board did not specify the reasons but it came amid increased attacks on Hindus there.

Sunil Gavaskar says Pakistan may make a U-turn on boycotting the India match but urges the ICC to take legal action over the decision.

ICC should take action: Gavaskar, Harbhajan slam Pakistan's boycott of T20WC match against India

Sunil Gavaskar says Pakistan may make a U-turn on boycotting the India match but urges the ICC to take legal action over the decision.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar foresees Pakistan making a "U-turn" but regardless of that, he called on the ICC to take legal action against the country for boycotting its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15.
Pakistan's government decided against granting permission to its cricket team to play the high-profile game in Colombo and though no official reason has been given, it is being widely construed as a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh. Bangladesh were ousted from the World Cup after refusing to play their matches in India, citing security concerns.
"I think in the next four or five days, when reactions start pouring in from across the world and even from their former players, there is a possibility that Pakistan will change their stance," Gavaskar quipped on 'India Today'.
The tournament gets underway on February 7 and Pakistan are due to play all their games in Sri Lanka as part of an agreement with the BCCI and ICC.
"What's new in this? We all know Pakistan cricketers retire and then, four days later, take back their retirement, saying 'our fans told us to play more'. This might happen again," Gavaskar said.
"Pakistan players have set examples. They keep coming back from retirement. So something like that might happen before the 15th," he joked.
Both Gavaskar and Harbhajan said ICC would be justified in acting against Pakistan.
Among the available options, the world body could dock Pakistan's World Test Championship points, make them stagnant in ICC rankings, and prompt top member nations to refuse to travel there.
"If Pakistan does not have a valid reason to justify withdrawing from the big match against India, or if they cannot show grounds for breaching the contract, then action will be taken by the ICC Board," he said.
"I don't know what action they will take, but I think there are so many other boards involved, so it's not just going to be one person's decision. However, it should be something that ensures no other team in the future also considers doing that.
"The ICC will probably take legal action against Pakistan over the refusal to play against India, but what the result of such an action would be, I can't say," he added.
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan, speaking on his YouTube channel, said the ICC should not spare Pakistan for the last-minute decision.
"They didn't have a problem earlier. They've now stepped into what was Bangladesh's issue. This decision can affect the ICC, so the ICC has every right to take legal action. It can impact the entire tournament," he said.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla backed the ICC’s warning to Pakistan over its proposed boycott of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo.

ICC right to pull up Pakistan for boycotting Indo-Pak fixture: Rajeev Shukla

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla backed the ICC&rsquo;s warning to Pakistan over its proposed boycott of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Monday said the the International Cricket Council (ICC) was right in warning Pakistan of severe repercussions for its selective pullout from the high-profile T20 World Cup contest against India in Colombo on February 15.
Pakistan's decision, conveyed through an official government statement, is being seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.
The ICC has already warned Pakistan Cricket Board the a boycott of the marquee fixture could lead to punitive sanctions and said that the decision is not in the interest of the the game in general.
"The ICC has issued a big statement on this subject. It has highlighted element of sportsmanship. We completely agree with the ICC. BCCI will not make any comment until we speak to the ICC," Shukla told reporters here.
The raging controversy was sparked by Bangladesh pacer's Mustafizur Rahman's ouster from the IPL on instructions of the BCCI for unspecified reasons.
Bangladesh refused to travel to India after that citing security concerns.
Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor said the game can't be held to ransom like the way it is being at the moment.
"It is pretty disgraceful that sport has been politicised in this way on both sides, frankly. I don't think that Mustafizur (Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman) should have been denied his contract to play in Kolkata. It was most unfortunate intrusion of politics," Tharoor told reporters.
"I think the Bangladeshi reaction was an overreaction but it is also a reflection of the same and Pakistan is trying to show its solidarity with Bangladesh. This whole thing is spiralling out of control.
"I honestly think this is now a wake up call for all concerned to contact each other on an emergency basis, the ICC could be the platform for it - just say, let's call off this nonsense...You can't go on like this forever," he said.
The India-Pakistan clash is the most anticipated fixture of any ICC event, drawing peak global viewership, sponsorship interest and broadcast revenues.
The host broadcaster could incur advertisement revenue losses which could be anything in the range of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for a marquee game whose 10 second commercial slot can cost up to Rs 40 lakh.
While a walkover would hand full points to India, the ICC retains the authority to impose financial penalties on the PCB.
To get a walkover, the opposition team needs to be present on the ground for the coin toss.
The Indian team will therefore travel to Sri Lanka and Suryakumar Yadav will be walking out for the toss.
Once Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha doesn't appear, the match referee will award a walkover and two points to India.
There could also be a host of sanctions awaiting Pakistan, including docking of WTC points, no movement in ICC rankings, top member nations refusing to travel there and last but not the least -- sanctions on participation of players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.
All their matches will be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.

Pakistan has announced a boycott of its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. The ICC has warned of possible sanctions and major financial losses.

Pakistan to boycott T20WC game against India, ICC warns of serious implications

Pakistan has announced a boycott of its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. The ICC has warned of possible sanctions and major financial losses.

Pakistan on Sunday announced a boycott of its high-profile men's T20 World Cup group league match against India, a move that is likely to have serious repercussions even as the government cleared the national team's participation in the rest of the global event starting February 7.
"The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India," the government posted on social media.
The decision, conveyed through an official government statement, is being seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.
The ICC, on its part, questioned the Pakistan government's decision and also issued a warning that this boycott could lead to punitive sanctions.
"The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of," the global body said in a statement.
"While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan," it further stated.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had said that it would reassess its participation following that decision as it showed solidarity with Bangladesh.
In a statement posted on social media, the government of Pakistan said it has granted approval to the Pakistan cricket team to take part in the tournament but said the team "shall not take the field" for the February 15 fixture against India in Colombo.
The India-Pakistan clash is the most anticipated fixture of any ICC event, drawing peak global viewership, sponsorship interest and broadcast revenues.
The host broadcaster could incur advertisement revenue losses which could be anything in the range of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for a marquee game whose 10 second commercial slot can cost up to Rs 40 lakh.
While a walkover would hand full points to India, the ICC retains the authority to impose financial penalties on the PCB.
To get a walkover, the opposition team needs to be present on the ground for the coin toss. The Indian team will hence travel to Sri Lanka and Suryakumar Yadav will be walking out for the toss. Once Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha doesn't appear, the match referee will award a walkover and two points to India.
There could also be a host of sanctions which includes docking of WTC points, no movement in ICC rankings, top member nations refusing to travel to Pakistan and last but not the least &mdash; sanctions on participation of players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18. All matches will be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.
A source close to the PCB said that the Board Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, will give more details to the media soon.
"What will be interesting to see is what reason the PCB gives for the government denying them permission to play India on February 15 and whether it was a unilateral government decision or the PCB was on board as well," the source said.
The current stand-off is due to ICC's decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after it declined to accept security assurances for hosting matches in India and sought a complete shift of its fixtures to Sri Lanka.
The ICC rejected the request and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, a move that triggered sharp reactions within Pakistan's cricketing and political establishment even as several former Pakistan players and officials advised against taking any decision that can hit country's cricket.
However, neither the PCB nor the government has made it clear as to what happens if Pakistan and India clash in the knock-out stages of the competition.
Pakistan and India's matches in the Asia Cup events or ICC tournaments are considered the main source of revenue for broadcasters and the global governing body.
In last year's Asia Cup both teams played thrice against each other in the UAE.

Pakistan announces boycott of its ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group match against India, while allowing participation in remaining fixtures amid regional tensions.

Pakistan to boycott T20WC game against India but compete in tournament

Pakistan announces boycott of its ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group match against India, while allowing participation in remaining fixtures amid regional tensions.

Pakistan on Sunday announced a boycott of its high-profile men's T20 World Cup group league match against India, a move that is likely to have repercussions, even as the government cleared the national team's participation in the rest of the global event, starting February 7.
The decision, conveyed through an official government statement, is being seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.&nbsp;
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had said that it would reassess its participation following that decision as it showed solidarity with Bangladesh.
In a statement posted on social media, the government of Pakistan said it has granted approval to the Pakistan cricket team to take part in the tournament but said the team "shall not take the field" for the February 15 fixture against India in Colombo.
The decision brings an end to days of speculation over Pakistan's participation in the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and comes amid heightened political tensions in the region.&nbsp;
"The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India," the government posted on social media.
The India-Pakistan clash is the most anticipated fixture of any ICC event, drawing peak global viewership, sponsorship interest and broadcast revenues. While a walkover would hand full points to India, the ICC retains the authority to impose financial penalties on the PCB.
Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18. All matches will be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.
A source close to the PCB said that the Board Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi will give more details to the media soon. "What will be interesting to see is what reason the PCB gives for the government denying them permission to play India on February 15 and whether it was a unilateral government decision or the PCB was on board as well," the source said.
The current stand-off is due to ICC's decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after it declined to accept security assurances for hosting matches in India and sought a complete shift of its fixtures to Sri Lanka.&nbsp;
The ICC rejected the request and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, a move that triggered sharp reactions within Pakistan's cricketing and political establishment even as several former Pakistan players and officials advised against taking any decision that can hit country's cricket.
However, the PCB or the government hasn't made it clear as to what happens if Pakistan and India clash in the knock-out stages of the competition.&nbsp;
Pakistan and India games in the Asia Cup events or ICC tournaments are considered the main source of revenue for broadcasters and the ICC. In last year's Asia Cup both teams played thrice against each other in the UAE.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has scheduled its T20 World Cup squad to depart for Colombo on February 2, signaling participation in the tournament and ruling out a boycott of the India match.

Pakistan's T20 WC boycott unlikely, team to leave for Colombo on Feb 2: Sources

The Pakistan Cricket Board has scheduled its T20 World Cup squad to depart for Colombo on February 2, signaling participation in the tournament and ruling out a boycott of the India match.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has already scheduled its T20 World Cup squad to depart for Colombo early on February 2, virtually ruling out any possibility of boycotting either the tournament or the marquee clash against India on February 15, sources close to the board said on Thursday.
"The PCB has already made travel arrangements for the World Cup squad to leave early morning on February 2 for Colombo," he said.
The source added that PCB had shown its full support to Bangladesh Cricket Board over their "security concerns" in playing in India and could not do anything further without damaging its own position within the ICC.
The BCCI, PCB and ICC had also entered into a tripartite agreement under which all India-Pakistan matches in ICC events until 2027 will be played at neutral venues.
"Keep in mind Pakistan&rsquo;s entire World Cup schedule is in Sri Lanka, including the final if they qualify. So on what grounds can they boycott the tournament or the match against India?" he asked.
It is expected that the PCB would confirm their participation on Friday.
There has been speculation in sections of the media that Pakistan could pull out of the tournament or refuse to play India.
But an insider dismissed such reports as rumours.
"When the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, he made it clear that all options under consideration should ensure a stable and prosperous future for Pakistan cricket and maintain good relations with the ICC and member boards," the insider said.
He added that the speculation lacked logic and failed to explain on what grounds the PCB could skip the World Cup or boycott the India match.
"The Indian government has said no to its team playing in Pakistan, but there is no bar on India playing Pakistan in Asia Cup-level events or in ICC events at neutral venues," he said.
"So how will Pakistan justify boycotting the match against India when its government has always claimed politics should not be mixed with sports?" he asked.

Pakistan Cricket Board supports Bangladesh's stance of not playing its T20 World Cup matches in India due to security concerns and offers to host the games, ahead of ICC’s final decision.

PCB backs Bangladesh's refusal to play T20WC in India, offers to host its games

Pakistan Cricket Board supports Bangladesh's stance of not playing its T20 World Cup matches in India due to security concerns and offers to host the games, ahead of ICC&rsquo;s final decision.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has backed Bangladesh's stance of refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India due to "security concerns" and offered to host the country's matches in a communication to the ICC.&nbsp;
The ICC Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to take a final call on Bangladesh's participation, including whether the team will travel to India for the tournament starting February 7.&nbsp;
Bangladesh are slated to play all four of their group-stage matches in India, with the first three scheduled in Kolkata and the remaining one in Mumbai. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board, supported by its government, has remained adamant and sought a shift of its matches to co-hosts Sri Lanka.&nbsp;
"The PCB has said in the e-mail that the demand by the Bangladesh board is justified and must be accepted and that if there are any issues moving Bangladesh matches to Sri Lanka, Pakistan is ready to host all their games," a PCB source said.&nbsp;
The ICC and the BCB have held multiple discussions on the issue, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, but neither side has changed its position. While the ICC has insisted that the tournament be held as per schedule, the BCB has maintained that it cannot send their team to India.&nbsp;
The PCB has not made any public comment on the matter although Board sources have said that the Bangladesh government had contacted Pakistan for support in the ICC.&nbsp;
Pakistan will be playing all their matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreement with the BCCI and ICC till 2027.&nbsp;
The crisis related to Bangladesh began after Kolkata Knight Riders released pacer Mustafizur Rahman following a directive from the BCCI, which referred to "recent developments all around".&nbsp;
Subsequently, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the IPL, and the BCB formally informed the ICC of its decision of not playing World Cup matches in India.&nbsp;

Pizza Hut Pakistan distanced itself from a Sialkot restaurant inaugurated by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, clarifying the outlet was unauthorised and misusing the brand’s name and logo.

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif inaugurates fake Pizza Hut outlet, gets brutally trolled

Pizza Hut Pakistan distanced itself from a Sialkot restaurant inaugurated by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, clarifying the outlet was unauthorised and misusing the brand&rsquo;s name and logo.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday inaugurated a restaurant in Sialkot that was presented as a Pizza Hut outlet, but the international fast-food chain later clarified that the establishment was unauthorised and had no association with the brand.
Shortly after the inauguration, Pizza Hut Pakistan issued a statement distancing itself from the outlet, saying it was falsely using the company&rsquo;s name and branding.
The restaurant is located in Sialkot Cantonment and featured Pizza Hut&rsquo;s distinctive red-roof logo, giving the appearance of an official franchise.
In its clarification, Pizza Hut Pakistan said, &ldquo;Pizza Hut Pakistan informs our valued customers that an unauthorised outlet falsely using the Pizza Hut name and branding has recently opened in Sialkot Cantonment.&rdquo;
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTrvUu8Ct8t/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
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The company further stated that the outlet had no legal or operational connection with Pizza Hut Pakistan or its parent company, Yum! Brands. &ldquo;This outlet is not associated with Pizza Hut Pakistan, or Yum! Brands. It does not follow Pizza Hut International recipes, quality protocols, food safety and operational standards,&rdquo; the statement said.
Pizza Hut Pakistan also said it had filed a formal complaint with the relevant authorities to stop the misuse of its trademark and to ensure immediate action.
Images of the inauguration ceremony, showing Asif cutting the ribbon at the outlet, circulated widely on social media after the clarification was issued. Asif is a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League&ndash;Nawaz (PML-N).
The outlet&rsquo;s branding closely resembled that of official Pizza Hut restaurants, but users pointed out that the Sialkot location does not appear on Pizza Hut Pakistan&rsquo;s list of authorised stores. According to the company, it currently operates 16 authorised outlets across the country &mdash; 14 in Lahore and two in Islamabad.
Following the clarification, social media platforms saw a surge in reactions, including memes and sarcastic commentary questioning how a senior federal minister inaugurated a commercial outlet without verification.
One user wrote, &ldquo;One ribbon cut, one statement issued. That has to be some kind of record.&rdquo;
Another commented, &ldquo;When even Pizza Hut says, &lsquo;Not our slice of the pie.&rsquo;&rdquo;
A third user wrote, &ldquo;Only in Pakistan can a Defence Minister proudly inaugurate a fake Pizza Hut. Khawaja Asif cut the ribbon, smiled for cameras, and walked away&mdash;only for the brand to later declare the outlet unauthorised. No one can parody this level of incompetence.&rdquo;
Another post in Urdu read, &ldquo;Kuch asli baki reh geya hy ya nahi is soobay main? Ajeeb vahiyat log nafiz hain hum per (Is there any real thing left anymore in Pakistan? We have been bestowed with weird and useless folks?).&rdquo;

The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly supported Bangladesh’s decision to skip its T20 World Cup group-stage matches in India due to “security concerns,” ahead of the ICC Board meeting to finalize participation.

PCB Supports Bangladesh's Decision to Skip T20 WC Matches in India

PCB Endorses Bangladesh Stance on T20 WC

The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly supported Bangladesh&rsquo;s decision to skip its T20 World Cup group-stage matches in India due to &ldquo;security concerns,&rdquo; ahead of the ICC Board meeting to finalize participation.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly backed Bangladesh's stance of refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India due to "security concerns" in a communication to the ICC.
The ICC Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to take a final call on Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup, including whether the team will travel to India for the tournament starting February 7.
Bangladesh are slated to play all four of their group-stage matches in India, with the first three scheduled in Kolkata and the remaining one in Mumbai.
However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board, supported by its government, has remained adamant and sought a shift of its matches to co-hosts Sri Lanka.
On the eve of the ICC meeting, the PCB wrote to the global body stating that it supports the BCB's stance, citing political instability in the region and has copied all ICC Board members on the letter, according to 'ESPNCricinfo'.
The ICC and the BCB have held multiple discussions on the issue, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, but neither side has changed its position.
While the ICC has insisted that the tournament be held as per schedule, the BCB has maintained that it cannot send their team to India.
The PCB has not made any public comment on the matter although Board sources have said that the Bangladesh government had contacted Pakistan for support in the ICC.
Pakistan will be playing all their matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreement with the BCCI and ICC till 2027.
The crisis related to Bangladesh began after Kolkata Knight Riders released pacer Mustafizur Rahman following a directive from the BCCI, which referred to "recent developments all around".
Subsequently, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the IPL, and the BCB formally informed the ICC of its decision of not playing World Cup matches in India.

Security forces activated anti-drone systems after Pakistani drones were spotted hovering along the Line of Control in Poonch and the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

J-K: Drones sighted along Indo-Pak border in Poonch, Samba

Security forces activated anti-drone systems after Pakistani drones were spotted hovering along the Line of Control in Poonch and the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistani drones were spotted hovering along the Indo-Pak border in the twin districts of Poonch and Samba in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting security forces to activate their anti-unmanned aerial system to respond effectively on Thursday night.
The drones were seen hovering along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and the Ramgarh sector of Samba district, according to sources.
A drone was seen near posts along the LoC in Poonch, leading the forces to implement their anti-UAS measures. Similarly, another drone was sighted along the International Border in the Ramgarh sector, sources added.
Meanwhile, troops remain on high alert along the border with Pakistan.On Tuesday night, Army personnel opened fire to intercept multiple suspected Pakistani drones that had entered Indian territory from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Rajouri district.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India is recalibrating its neighbourhood policy, balancing humanitarian support with firm responses to terrorism, in remarks indirectly targeting Pakistan.

Jaishankar says India will defend its people against terrorism from bad neighbours

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India is recalibrating its neighbourhood policy, balancing humanitarian support with firm responses to terrorism, in remarks indirectly targeting Pakistan.

Taking repeated indirect and direct swipes at Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday said India is recalibrating its neighbourhood policy by balancing humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and firm responses to security threats, stressing that sustained terrorism makes normal neighbourly relations impossible.
Speaking at the inauguration of Shaastra 2026, the techno-entertainment festival at IIT Madras, Jaishankar said India has &ldquo;naturally invested&rdquo; in neighbours that maintain cooperative and constructive relations.&nbsp;
He noted that several countries in the region received their first COVID-19 vaccine consignments from India and that New Delhi also provided food assistance during the Ukraine conflict when global supply chains were under strain.
Referring to Sri Lanka, Jaishankar said India extended USD 4 billion in financial assistance during the island nation&rsquo;s economic crisis and responded immediately with rescue and relief operations during a recent cyclone. &ldquo;That is what good neighbours do,&rdquo; he said.
However, the External Affairs Minister underlined that not all neighbours behave responsibly. &ldquo;You can also have bad neighbours. Unfortunately, we do. When you have bad neighbours, if you look to the one to the west, if a country decides that it will deliberately, persistently, and unrepentantly continue with terrorism, we have a right to defend our people against terrorism. We will exercise that right,&rdquo; Jaishankar said, in remarks clearly aimed at Pakistan.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Tamil Nadu: On being asked about India's neighbourhood policy, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "... You can also have bad neighbours. Unfortunately, we do. When you have bad neighbours, if you look to the one to the west. If a country decides that it will deliberately,&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/8w6dgDHLtc">pic.twitter.com/8w6dgDHLtc</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2006979030369915203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&ldquo;How we exercise that right is up to us. Nobody can tell us what we should or should not do. We will do whatever we have to do to defend ourselves,&rdquo; he added.
Jaishankar said long-standing cross-border terrorism has made it impossible to sustain normal cooperation with such neighbours. &ldquo;We have the right to defend our people. If you face terrorism for decades, you cannot have a good neighbourhood relationship. You cannot share water or cooperation with someone who continues terrorism,&rdquo; he said.
The minister also referred to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 with Pakistan, which was suspended following the deadly Pahalgam attack.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My interaction with students at <a href="https://twitter.com/iitmadras?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iitmadras</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> <a href="https://t.co/9DcdQqJtf9">https://t.co/9DcdQqJtf9</a>
&mdash; Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2006961476989497822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&ldquo;Many years ago, we agreed to a water-sharing arrangement, but if you had decades of terrorism, there is no good neighbourliness. If there is no good neighbourliness, you don't get the benefits of that good neighbourliness. You can't say, &lsquo;Please share water with me, but I will continue terrorism with you.&rsquo; That's not reconcilable,&rdquo; he said.
Jaishankar said India is surrounded by &ldquo;a lot of neighbours of various kinds&rdquo; and that New Delhi&rsquo;s approach depends on how those neighbours behave. &ldquo;If you have a neighbour who is good to you or at least who is not harmful to you, your natural instinct is to be kind, to help that neighbour, and that's what we do as a country,&rdquo; he said.
On Bangladesh, the External Affairs Minister said India wishes the country well in its elections and hopes that &ldquo;once things settle down, good neighbourliness will continue.&rdquo;
Speaking about Afghanistan, Jaishankar reiterated India&rsquo;s long-standing civilisational ties with the country and acknowledged the challenges faced by its people. He said he had a constructive discussion with his Afghan counterpart and expressed optimism that &ldquo;things will improve over time.&rdquo;
Addressing reports that an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was harassed by Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai airport in November, Jaishankar said India had formally protested the incident. &ldquo;A lady from Arunachal Pradesh was detained and harassed. We protested. Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always remain, a part of India. We expect other countries to respect laws and norms,&rdquo; he asserted.
Jaishankar also recalled remarks made last month, when he said that &ldquo;much of India's problems&rdquo; emanate from the Pakistani army. Drawing an analogy, he had said that just as there are &ldquo;good terrorists and bad terrorists,&rdquo; there are &ldquo;good military leaders and apparently not-so-good ones,&rdquo; comments seen as a reference to Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
On a lighter note, Jaishankar spoke about his personal routine, saying his life remains &ldquo;balanced&rdquo; despite not having conventional off days. &ldquo;In my life, I don't have off days&hellip; the world still runs on Saturday-Sunday,&rdquo; he said, adding that reading, music, sports and maintaining a routine help him stay grounded.
&ldquo;If you build a physical routine into your cycle, give yourself some time to read, write, think, talk, watch I can tell you your daily routine itself is so balanced that you don't need to unplug, but my wife is sitting here and she may contradict me,&rdquo; he added.

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie recalls being blindsided by PCB decisions, Tim Nielsen’s sacking, and ongoing financial disputes.

Jason Gillespie Felt 'Humiliated' During Pakistan Coach Tenure

Jason Gillespie's Struggle as Pakistan Coach

Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie recalls being blindsided by PCB decisions, Tim Nielsen&rsquo;s sacking, and ongoing financial disputes.

The sacking of Tim Nielsen as high performance red-ball coach was among a number of issues with the PCB which left him &ldquo;completely humiliated&rdquo;, says former Australia great Jason Gillespie, looking back at his short nine-month stint as Pakistan head coach.
In April 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board had appointed Gillespie as the head coach in red-ball cricket and former South African batter Gary Kirsten was roped in for a similar role in white-ball formats.
However, Kirsten&rsquo;s resignation in October later that year followed Gillespie&rsquo;s in December, when Nielsen was communicated by the PCB that his services would not be needed before the tour of South Africa 2024-25.
A former head coach of the Australian team, Nielsen was appointed as the high performance red-ball coach in August 2024.
"I was coaching the Pakistan Test side. The PCB sacked our senior assistant coach with ZERO communication with me about it&mdash; as Head Coach I found this situation completely unacceptable,&rdquo; Gillespie wrote on 'X' when asked by a user why he had left his role with the Pakistan Test team.
"There were a number of other issues which left me completely humiliated," he added.
Nielsen&rsquo;s axing, before Pakistan&rsquo;s tour of South Africa, was perhaps the final blow to a rapidly disintegrating relationship between Gillespie and the PCB, which ended with him refusing to board the flight from Adelaide to South Africa and eventually resigning.
In between his resignation and the exit of Kirsten, Gillespie had also served as the interim white-ball coach. Gillespie was succeeded by former Pakistan cricketer Aaqib Javed across formats, who was also serving on the selection panel.
While he was with the Pakistan team, Gillespie felt he was &ldquo;completely and utterly blindsided&rdquo; by the PCB. He told ABC Sport, "There were certainly challenges. I went into the job eyes wide open, I want to make that really clear. I knew that, you know, Pakistan had cycled through a number of coaches in a pretty short space of time."
"The straw that broke the camel's back, I suppose, was, as a head coach, you like to have clear communication with your employer. I was completely and utterly blindsided by a decision to not have a high-performance coach. Tim Nielsen was told that his services were no longer required and I had absolutely zero communication from anyone about that.&rdquo;
"And I just thought after a number of other things that had gone on in the previous few months, that was probably the moment where I thought, 'Well, I'm not really sure if they actually want me to do this job or not&rsquo;."
Gillespie even said he felt his job was reduced to giving players catching practice before a match.
&ldquo;I felt I was basically hitting catches and that was about it on the morning of a game,&rdquo; he said.
"You want to be able to have clear communication with all stakeholders, with selectors, for instance, knowing what the team is as head coach well before the game, or before at least the day before the game,&rdquo; Gillespie added.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Gillespie and PCB are now engaged in a financial dispute with the former coach claiming he was not paid his dues while the board claims he did not provide them with a four-month notice period as per their contract.

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi will fly back from Australia for treatment after sustaining a knee injury during the Big Bash League, raising doubts over his availability for the T20 World Cup.

Shaheen Afridi Returns to Pakistan Amid Injury Concerns for T20 World Cup

Injury Concerns for Shaheen Afridi's World Cup

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi will fly back from Australia for treatment after sustaining a knee injury during the Big Bash League, raising doubts over his availability for the T20 World Cup.

Experienced Pakistan left-arm pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will return home from Australia later on Wednesday with doubts over his availability for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka early next year.
Shaheen has been called by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for treatment and rehabilitation at the High Performance Centre in Lahore after he sustained a knee injury while fielding for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Shaheen, who has struggled in his maiden appearance in the BBL, had spent a long time out from cricket in 2021-22 after undergoing knee surgery following an injury while fielding in a Test in Sri Lanka.
A PCB official said that Shaheen had been called back after discussions with Cricket Australia (CA) as the initial feedback was that he required complete rest and time to recover from the injury. He said that the seriousness of the injury and the potential timeline for recovery will be determined after his meeting with the board's doctors.
Shaheen expressed disappointment on social media at leaving the tournament prematurely. "I have enjoyed myself a lot playing for Brisbane and I am sad that I will not be able to finish the season with the team," he said in a statement released by the BBL side. "Hopefully, I will be back in the fields soon," he wrote.
Shaheen featured in four matches for Brisbane Heat, claiming two wickets at an average of 76.50. In his first match, he was taken off the attack after bowling two full-toss deliveries.
Shaheen was not included in the Pakistan squad for a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka (January 7-11) even before he sustained the injury.

Pakistan Cricket Board has released national Test team head coach Azhar Mahmood three months before his contract expiry, as PCB begins search for a new coach ahead of 2026 Test assignments.

PCB Ends Azhar Mahmood's Contract as Pakistan Test Coach

PCB Ends Azhar Mahmood's Contract Early

Pakistan Cricket Board has released national Test team head coach Azhar Mahmood three months before his contract expiry, as PCB begins search for a new coach ahead of 2026 Test assignments.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has parted ways with the national Test team head coach Azhar Mahmood three months before the expiry of his contract, according to sources.
The contract of Mahmood, a former Test all-rounder, runs until March 2026 but he has been given an early release. Pakistan&rsquo;s next Test assignment isn&rsquo;t until March 2026.
"Since Azhar&rsquo;s contract ends in March and Pakistan&rsquo;s Test assignments begin from March 2026, it would be the best for the Board to start planning ahead for a new head coach," a reliable source close to the Board said.
Mahmood, who has taken up different positions in the national team in the last few years, had a two-year contract running with the Board. He was named head coach of the Test side last year.
The source said that the PCB has now started the search for a new head coach of the Test side, and there could be an overhaul of the support staff as well.
Pakistan&rsquo;s assignments in the ICC World Test Championship start in March 2026 with a tour of Bangladesh followed by tours to West Indies in July and England in August-September. In November-December 2026 and March 2027, Pakistan will host Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
The Test side has had interim coaches in Aaqib Javed and Mahmood ever since the PCB and Australian Jason Gillispie parted ways in early 2024 because of differences over selection matters.
The PCB is also on the lookout for a head coach for the national women's team as Muhammad Wasim&rsquo;s contract was not renewed after the ICC World Cup in September-October.

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