Pakistan's huge blunder, PCB leaks T20 World Cup plan, deletes post minutes later

In a potential slip-up, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appeared to inadvertently leak the men's team's participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. On January 30, PCB issued a media statement regarding the release of pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr. from the squad for the current series against Australia.

PCB deletes post after accidentally confirming Pakistan’s T20 World Cup plan

The original version of the release concluded with a specific detail about the team's upcoming travel plans for the World Cup. While the PCB quickly edited the statement to remove this reference, the initial mention suggests that logistical arrangements for the tournament are already moving forward, despite the board's official stance that a final decision is still pending government approval.

“Update on Pakistan T20I Squad. Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr has been released from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the remaining two matches of the series against Australia. Pakistan will compete the series with the 15-member squad that will travel onwards for the ICC Cricket World Cup," the statement said.

ALSO READ: Asian Legends Cup: India bulldoze Pakistan by 77 runs after bundling out arch-rivals for 96

Almost immediately after the initial release, the PCB took the unusual step of deleting the statement across its official channels. They quickly issued a revised version that was nearly identical but conspicuously missing the final sentence regarding the World Cup travel plans. This rapid retraction has led to widespread speculation that the board may have jumped the gun on a formal announcement. By stripping the mention of the ICC tournament, the PCB appears to be attempting to maintain a neutral public stance until a final, official decision is sanctioned by the government.

“Update on Pakistan T20I Squad. Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr has been released from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the remaining two matches of the series against Australia," the revised statement read.

Pakistan's dilly dally on T20 World Cup participation

Uncertainty persists regarding Pakistan’s involvement in the 2026 T20 World Cup, as PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the national government continue to evaluate their position. A final clarification is expected from the country’s Foreign Office on Monday, February 2, cutting it incredibly close to the tournament’s opening match on February 7.

ALSO READ: 'Gambhir is okay with Kohli, Rohit in ODIs but under pressure in...': Bavuma's candid take on India's head coach

While the PCB has avoided a direct public confrontation with the ICC, it has framed its hesitation as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh. The ICC recently rejected Bangladesh's security concerns regarding playing in India, leading to their replacement in the tournament. In line with this cautious approach, the PCB has avoided any symbolic gestures of commitment, such as Saturday’s planned jersey launch, which was abruptly cancelled.

Reports indicate that the PCB has already finalized travel arrangements, with the squad scheduled to depart for Colombo in the early hours of February 2.