Seasoned Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane showed a cold shoulder to Pakistan‘s threat to boycott the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi put the national team’s participation in doubt as the ICC ejected Bangladesh from the marquee tournament. In support of Bangladesh, PCB and the Pakistan Cricket Board are expected to make a major decision on the matter.
Speculations remain as Pakistan set to take a decision
Naqvi previously mentioned that they are keeping all doors open to take a final call. There are multiple claims around Pakistan’s next possible move ahead of the tournament. There are some reports suggesting Pakistan can boycott the whole tournament, while some other reports claim that they can only forfeit their clash against India, which is scheduled to be held in Colombo on February 15.
Putting a question over Pakistan’s guts, Rahane believes that Pakistan is not at the point to boycott a high-profile tournament like the T20 World Cup 2026. Rahane stated that Pakistan does not have the guts to do that.
Ajinkya Rahane said that Pakistan don’t have the guts
“I don’t think they will do it. They don’t have the guts,” Ajinkya Rahane said on Cricbuzz.
In the ongoing standoff between the ICC and Bangladesh, Pakistan could simply avoid the situation and participate in the tournament without creating any unnecessary speculations. But they dragged themselves into the matter internally, which has created another layer of controversy ahead of the tournament.
What Ajinkya Rahane said has valid points. If the Pakistan Cricket Board, backed by the Government of Pakistan, decides to skip the tournament or to boycott the highly anticipated clash with India, they can put themselves in serious trouble.
Those possible acts against the International Cricket Council can be proved as a headlong drive without any precautionary measures. The influence of government or politics can be handled with strict control, as the council has the power to do so. Even a ban on Pakistan is not impossible if they decide to follow the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) footprints.
Ajinkya Rahane’s verdict can prove accurate
The Bangladesh cricket team was thrown out of the T20 World Cup 2026 as their officials remained firm on their demand, which was to shift their matches from India to Sri Lanka because of ‘security and safety concerns.’
Even after receiving an ultimatum from the highest authority of the game, Bangladeshi officials refused to step back from their stance. As a result, they are now not a part of the elite tournament.
Despite showing open support for Bangladesh, Pakistan can play in the 2026 World Cup, as some reports stated that the tickets for the team to travel to Colombo have been booked. On February 2, only a few days before the opening day of the competition, PCB is expected to declare their final decision.
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