Irfan Pathan calls Pakistan’s T20 World Cup stand ‘utter nonsense’ after Bangladesh saga
Pakistan’s threat to skip the T20 World Cup or boycott the clash against India has been blasted as “utter nonsense” by former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who reminded them that both boards have already agreed to play ICC games at neutral venues like Sri Lanka. The row comes days after Bangladesh were thrown out of the tournament and replaced by Scotland, with Pakistan accusing the ICC of “double standards” over how the Bangladesh issue was handled.
Pathan tears into Pakistan’s stance
After Bangladesh’s exit, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi alleged that the ICC was applying double standards, and said Pakistan’s final call on participation would be taken by the government after his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistani media reports then suggested that the team might pull out of the tournament or boycott the India match, despite their entire schedule already being fixed in Sri Lanka.
Irfan Pathan, speaking to Revsportz, hit out strongly at that posture. “Nonsense! Nonsense! This is absolutely utter nonsense from Pakistan,” he said. He pointed out that Pakistan and India already play each other at neutral venues in ICC events and Asia Cup-level tournaments under a hybrid model both boards had accepted. “If you have agreed to a hybrid model before and to play in Sri Lanka, then why create this situation now? It is nothing other than utter nonsense,” he added.
Background: Bangladesh exit and Mustafizur row
Bangladesh had refused to travel to India for the T20 World Cup citing security concerns in the wake of pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s enforced exit from IPL 2026, after Kolkata Knight Riders were instructed by the Indian government to release him amid worsening political relations between the two countries. The Bangladesh government backed the BCB’s stance, and when the ICC rejected their request to move games to a neutral venue, Bangladesh withdrew and were replaced by Scotland as the highest-ranked non-qualifier.
Pakistan publicly supported Bangladesh’s security concerns, and Naqvi accused the ICC of double standards, referencing how India’s Champions Trophy 2025 matches were moved to a neutral venue while Bangladesh’s request was turned down. However, once the ICC’s final verdict stood and Bangladesh were replaced, attention shifted to Pakistan’s own participation.
Hybrid model already in place
The key point in Pathan’s criticism is that the BCCI, PCB, and ICC have already entered a tripartite agreement under which all India–Pakistan matches in ICC events until 2027 are to be played at neutral venues like Sri Lanka and the UAE. Defending champions India are scheduled to face Pakistan in a T20 World Cup group clash in Colombo on February 15, with Pakistan’s full World Cup itinerary based in Sri Lanka .
Given that arrangement, Pathan questioned why Pakistan were now creating a crisis. With Pakistan’s squad already slated to fly to Colombo on February 2, insiders in Pakistan cricket have also suggested that a boycott would be hard to justify when their own government has repeatedly said politics should not mix with sports and when there is no requirement to travel to India at all .