Ousted Bangla player signed for Pak league
PTI
Karachi, Updated At : 09:15 AM Feb 06, 2026 IST
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called his country’s boycott of the T20 World Cup match against India an “appropriate decision” and described it as a “considered stance” in support of Bangladesh.
The government instructed Pakistan’s cricket team to skip the February 15 fixture in Colombo after Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland for refusing to play matches in India, citing “security concerns”.
“We have taken a very clear stand that we won’t play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field,” Sharif said after a government meeting. “We should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision. We are with Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh sports adviser Asif Nazrul responded by posting “Thank You, Pakistan” on his official Facebook page, quoting Sharif’s remarks.
The International Cricket Council has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board of serious consequences if Pakistan fails to appear for the high-profile match, noting the fixture’s significance for sponsors, broadcasters and advertisers. The ICC urged the PCB to consider the “significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country” and the likely impact on the global cricket ecosystem.
Pakistan has arrived in Colombo for its other preliminary matches, beginning with a game against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Separately, Lahore Qalandars on Thursday announced the direct signing of Mustafizur Rahman for Pakistan Super League Season 11 after the Bangladesh pacer was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. Rahman’s removal from the KKR roster on BCCI instructions touched off a controversial chain of events that led to Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the ICC T20 World Cup and Pakistan’s selective boycott of the marquee India fixture.
