Pakistan has delayed a final decision on taking part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Naqvi said all options remain open and a decision will be taken by Friday or next Monday.   The uncertainty follows the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after Dhaka refused to travel to India over security concerns. Pakistan has raised objections to the move and may even skip its group match against India in Colombo.   The ICC has warned Pakistan against any boycott, saying withdrawal could lead to severe sanctions. The PCB said government clearance is required before confirming participation.

Bangladesh cricketers are pleading to "save cricket" after the Bangladesh Cricket Board reinstated controversial director M Najmul Islam as finance head, just days after suspending him. Players had gone on strike during the Bangladesh Premier League demanding Islam's dismissal following provocative comments during the ICC-BCB impasse over refusing to play in India for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Islam had called batting legend Tamim Iqbal an "agent" of India and stated players didn't deserve compensation for the tournament withdrawal, which cost approximately INR 300 crore. Despite a show-cause notice and player protests, the BCB's disciplinary department cleared Islam after reviewing his response. A sense of helplessness now grips Bangladesh cricketers. (PC: X)

Pakistan is considering skipping its group-stage match against India at the T20 World Cup 2026 after a dispute with the International Cricket Council. According to a report by Pakistan’s Geo News, the Pakistan Cricket Board is weighing options to protest the ICC’s refusal to move Bangladesh’s matches away from India. One option includes forfeiting the February 15 match in Colombo, while another is withdrawing from the tournament. The ICC has warned that a withdrawal could cause major financial losses and long-term damage to Pakistan cricket. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said a final decision will be taken after consultations with the Pakistan government. Bangladesh has withdrawn and was replaced by Scotland. (PC: India Today)

Cricketers Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur have been named for the Padma Shri as the President approved 131 Padma awards for 2026. The honours were announced on the eve of Republic Day. The list includes five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards. The Padma Shri recognises distinguished service in sports and other fields. Officials said the 2026 list includes 19 women and 16 posthumous awardees. The Padma awards will be conferred by the President at ceremonial functions at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually held in March or April. (PC: X)

Abhishek Sharma produced a rapid half-century to power India to an eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the third T20I in Guwahati. Chasing 154, the left-hander reached his fifty in just 14 balls, the joint third-fastest in T20I history and the quickest by an Indian after Yuvraj Singh’s record. Abhishek remained unbeaten on 68 from 20 deliveries as India finished the chase inside 10 overs. Suryakumar Yadav added 57 off 26 balls in a dominant stand. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets as New Zealand were restricted to 153 for nine. The victory gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. (PC: BCCI)

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has accepted the ICC’s decision to remove the team from the T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh was dropped after refusing to travel to India, citing government security advice. The ICC rejected requests to shift matches to Sri Lanka or change group placement. Scotland has been named as Bangladesh’s replacement. BCB officials said all options were exhausted and no further appeal will be made. The board confirmed it will not seek arbitration or dispute resolution. An ICC security review found no specific threat, but Bangladesh maintained safety concerns for players and staff. The tournament will be held in India and Sri Lanka. (PC: India Today)

Scotland have been confirmed as Bangladesh’s replacement for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and will travel to India immediately. Cricket Scotland said the squad is preparing to arrive soon to adjust to local conditions before the tournament begins on February 7. The ICC invited Scotland after Bangladesh withdrew, citing security concerns. Cricket Scotland accepted the offer in a letter and thanked the ICC for the opportunity. Chief executive Trudy Lindblade said the team had been training for upcoming tours and was ready to compete. Scotland were selected based on ICC rankings and have played in five previous T20 World Cups. (PC: India Today)

The International Cricket Council has warned Pakistan of serious sanctions if it withdraws from the T20 World Cup, sources said. Officials said a boycott would challenge ICC authority and harm global tournaments. Possible penalties include suspension from the Asia Cup, loss of ICC funding, and limits on foreign players in the Pakistan Super League. Bilateral series could also be halted. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan will follow government directions and no final decision has been taken yet. Sources said the PCB is aware that a withdrawal could cause long-term financial damage and isolate Pakistan from international cricket. The warning follows Bangladesh’s recent exit from the tournament over security concerns. (PC: India Today)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of strict sanctions if Pakistan withdraws from the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in support of Bangladesh, which recently pulled out after its venue change request was denied. Potential penalties include banning Pakistan from bilateral series, excluding them from the Asia Cup, and blocking No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for foreign players in the Pakistan Super League. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has criticized the ICC for “double standards” in handling Bangladesh’s case and said Pakistan’s participation will be decided by its government. (PC: AP)

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that Pakistan’s involvement in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be decided by the government, following Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament for refusing to travel to India over security concerns. Naqvi criticised the ICC for replacing Bangladesh with Scotland, calling it unfair. He emphasized that the PCB supports Bangladesh and will follow the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before confirming Pakistan’s participation. Contingency plans are ready for all possible outcomes, as the cricket board awaits government approval. (PC: PTI)