Pakistan's hollow threat to boycott T20 World Cup exposed, team all set to leave for Colombo on February 2

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has effectively ended speculation regarding a potential boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to get underway from February 7. Reportedly, PCB has finalised travel arrangements for the national squad, with the team scheduled to depart for Colombo in the early hours of February 2. This logistical commitment strongly indicates that Pakistan will participate in the tournament as planned, despite recent administrative tensions.

Pakistan team set to leave for Sri Lanka on February 2

The move virtually guarantees that the highly anticipated marquee clash between India and Pakistan will take place on February 15. Insiders suggest that because Pakistan's entire schedule—including a potential final—is set to be played at neutral venues in Sri Lanka, there are no logical grounds for a withdrawal. By moving forward with these travel plans, the PCB appears to be prioritizing its standing with the ICC and the stability of its international cricketing future.

"The PCB has already made travel arrangements for the World Cup squad to leave early morning on February 2 for Colombo," a source close to the PCB told PTI.

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PCB's empty threat to pull out of T20 World Cup

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had initially cast doubt on Pakistan's participation in the showpiece tournament. This uncertainty arose after the ICC rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) request to relocate their matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns, a decision that ultimately led to Bangladesh's withdrawal and replacement by Scotland. Naqvi had suggested that Pakistan might abstain from the event as a gesture of protest and solidarity with Bangladesh. To navigate the delicate situation, Naqvi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad earlier this week to seek high-level government guidance.

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While the Prime Minister reportedly validated the PCB's stance of backing Bangladesh, he ultimately advised against a full boycott. According to sources from Telecomasia.net, the Prime Minister cautioned that withdrawing from the tournament could lead to severe financial consequences and potentially damage Pakistan's long-term standing within the international cricket community.

Despite the political tension, the Pakistan national team is moving forward with its on-field preparations. The squad is scheduled to officially launch its T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 in Colombo against the Netherlands.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad:

Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, ‍Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq