Pakistan has protested the International Cricket Council’s decision to allow Scotland to play in the T20 World Cup instead of Bangladesh. Calling the move unfair, the Pakistan government decided to boycott its group-stage match against India as part of the protest. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed disappointment over Bangladesh’s exclusion, describing Bangladeshis as “brothers” and asking for their support during the tournament.

Speaking to media in Colombo, Salman said the decision to boycott India was made by the government, not the players. He added that if Pakistan faces India in the knockout stage, the team will consult the government again before deciding whether to play. Reflecting on the previous World Cup, Salman said Pakistan aims to correct past mistakes after losing to the United States.

By boycotting India, Pakistan will lose two points, which could hurt its net run rate. Salman acknowledged the challenge, noting that weather conditions are beyond their control and the team’s focus remains on playing good cricket.

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has called on current ICC chairman Jay Shah to take an active role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and India. Speaking to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper from London, Mani said Shah should personally visit Pakistan to persuade its government to withdraw its boycott and to listen carefully to its concerns. He warned that the ICC must also protect global cricket from potential financial losses if the standoff continues.

Mani criticized the ICC’s reported decision to assign deputy chairman Imran Khwaja to handle talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), arguing that as a representative of associate member Singapore, Khwaja was not the right person for the task. He said the ICC chairman himself should engage directly with the Pakistani government. Mani added that Pakistan’s decision likely rests on a strong foundation, especially if the matter reaches the ICC arbitration committee.

He expressed concern that India’s influence within the ICC could affect any arbitration outcome, as seen in 2018, and suggested Pakistan could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland if justice is denied.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider its decision to boycott the World Cup match against India, citing potential financial losses. The match, one of the tournament’s most commercially valuable fixtures, could cost the International Cricket Council (ICC) around 500 million US dollars if it does not take place. Each cricket board of the two rival nations could lose approximately 2 billion Indian rupees directly and indirectly.

SLC stated that the boycott would also harm Sri Lanka’s economy, particularly its tourism sector, which is still recovering from the 2022 financial crisis. The board emphasized that as a co-host of the World Cup, it stands to face significant economic setbacks if the high-profile match is canceled.

However, the PCB has declined to act on Sri Lanka’s request, explaining that the decision to boycott India was made by the Pakistani government and is beyond the board’s authority. The ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously failed to persuade Pakistan to reverse its stance.

French forward Karim Benzema made a spectacular debut for Al Hilal, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist in a 6-0 victory over Al Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday night. The 38-year-old striker, who recently transferred from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal on the final day of the winter transfer window, opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a backheel finish. He added two more goals in the second half before assisting Brazilian forward Malcom.

Benzema was substituted in the 71st minute by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, but Al Hilal continued their dominance as Salem Al-Dawsari scored twice to complete the rout. The match marked a strong start for Benzema at his new club, which is also the former team of Neymar Jr. The Frenchman expressed his delight after the match, saying the team played well, scored many goals, and conceded none.

The emphatic win highlighted Benzema’s seamless adaptation to Al Hilal and raised expectations for his performance in the remainder of the season.

The T20 World Cup begins today, but Bangladesh will not participate in the tournament due to security concerns. Despite the team’s absence, Bangladesh will still have representation at the global event through former national cricketer Athar Ali Khan, who has been named among the 40 commentators announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on its website.

Earlier, the ICC also released the list of match officials for the tournament, which includes Bangladeshi umpires Sharafuddoula Ibne Shahid from the ICC Elite Panel and Gazi Sohel from the ICC International Panel. The commentary team features several renowned names such as Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Atherton, Harsha Bhogle, Ramiz Raja, and Alan Wilkins.

Additionally, former T20 World Cup winners Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Kumar Sangakkara, Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa, and Carlos Brathwaite will also join the commentary panel, adding further star power to the broadcast lineup.

Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has said that Pakistan’s decision to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India, in protest of a recent ICC decision involving Bangladesh, could spell disaster for both India and the International Cricket Council. The move has created a major crisis for the ICC, as the India–Pakistan match is considered one of the most financially lucrative and high-profile contests in world cricket.

Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Butcher argued that India often influences cricket decisions to its advantage, leaving Pakistan in a weaker position. He recalled that during the Champions Trophy, India’s refusal to play in Pakistan forced a complete rescheduling that affected all teams. Butcher said such actions disrupt tournament balance and logistics, with schedules frequently adjusted for India’s convenience.

He added that Pakistan’s stance reflects solidarity with Bangladesh, noting that while Pakistan and Dubai were allowed to co-host the Champions Trophy, Bangladesh was denied similar flexibility. Butcher warned that canceling the India–Pakistan match would cause massive financial losses for organizers and broadcasters.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that Pakistan will boycott its ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup match against India, describing the move as an act of solidarity with Bangladesh. Sharif told his cabinet that the decision followed careful deliberation and reflected Pakistan’s stance that politics should not interfere with sports. The match, scheduled for February 15, will not be played by Pakistan, effectively confirming earlier speculation about the government’s position.

The decision comes after Bangladesh was ousted from the tournament for refusing to travel to India for its fixtures, a situation that followed the expulsion of Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League on the directives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha said the team would seek government advice if it faces India in later knockout stages. The International Cricket Council (ICC) criticized the boycott, saying selective participation undermines the spirit of global competitions and could have long-term consequences for Pakistan’s cricket.

It remains unclear whether the Pakistan Cricket Board will face additional sanctions or bans beyond forfeiting two points. The T20 World Cup begins on Saturday.

Bangladesh’s Under-19 women’s football team expressed strong confidence ahead of the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship final against India, scheduled to take place tomorrow in Pokhara, Nepal. Earlier in the group stage, Bangladesh defeated India 2–0, and team captain Arpita Biswas said the players are fully fit and mentally prepared for the decisive match.

Arpita noted that the team’s morale is high after their earlier victory over India, adding that the players are determined to bring the championship trophy home. She emphasized that everyone is in good physical condition and ready to give their best effort in the final. Bangladesh has previously won four titles across the U-18, U-19, and U-20 categories, while India has won once. In 2024, both teams shared the championship title.

This time, Bangladesh aims to secure the trophy outright, with Arpita affirming that the team will fight with full determination to achieve a solo championship victory.

The upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup, once expected to be a global cricket celebration, has been clouded by political tensions in South Asia. Disputes among India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have disrupted the festive atmosphere before the tournament begins. India refused to play in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy, prompting Pakistan to decline matches in India. Bangladesh protested the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL and requested to move its World Cup matches to Sri Lanka, citing safety concerns. The ICC, reportedly influenced by India, rejected the request and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland.

Amid the turmoil, Pakistan announced it would not play India even at a neutral venue, intensifying the crisis. The political storm has cast uncertainty over the entire tournament, which had been fully prepared with venues, schedules, and broadcast plans. Cricket fans across the region now fear that politics may overshadow the sport’s spirit.

The article concludes that despite the tension, there remains hope that once the games begin, attention will return to cricket’s beauty and unity, rather than division.

The ICC Under-19 World Cup final between England and India will be broadcast live at 1:30 p.m. on Star Sports and Jio Hotstar, according to the schedule released on February 6, 2026. The day’s sports lineup also includes T20 World Cup warm-up matches featuring Italy versus the United Arab Emirates at 3:30 p.m. and India A versus Namibia at 5:30 p.m., both available on Rabbithole.

Football fans will have several live options as well. The English Premier League match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest will air at 2:00 a.m. on Bet365. La Liga’s Celta Vigo versus Osasuna will also start at 2:00 a.m. on Fancode and Bet365. Additional European fixtures include Verona versus Pisa in Serie A at 1:45 a.m., Union Berlin versus Frankfurt in the Bundesliga at 1:30 a.m., and Metz versus Lille in Ligue 1 at 1:45 a.m.

The schedule highlights a packed day of international cricket and football broadcasts across multiple platforms, offering fans a wide range of live viewing choices.

Ticket sales for the T20 World Cup matches at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens have dropped sharply after Bangladesh withdrew from the tournament. The Bangladesh team was originally scheduled to play three group-stage matches at the iconic stadium, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board declined to play in India citing security concerns. The International Cricket Council subsequently replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the competition.

According to Indian media reports, ticket counters at Eden Gardens have seen minimal crowds, with only a handful of fans lining up for purchases. The stadium, which can hold 65,000 spectators, has sold fewer than 21,000 tickets so far. Specific match sales remain low, including just 2,917 tickets for the West Indies–Scotland game and 348 for Scotland–Italy. Even the combined sales for the Super Eight and semifinal rounds have reached only about 9,000.

The absence of both Bangladesh and India in the group-stage fixtures at Eden Gardens is being cited as the main reason for the weak spectator turnout.

Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi has said that despite short-term losses, the recent stance taken by Bangladesh and Pakistan over the T20 World Cup could ultimately lead to a stronger and reformed International Cricket Council (ICC). Bangladesh withdrew from the tournament in India citing security concerns, after the ICC rejected its request to play in Sri Lanka. In response, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland. Pakistan, protesting what it called ICC’s double standards, decided to boycott its World Cup match against India.

Sethi told India Today that the current situation may cause temporary setbacks but could bring long-term benefits by reducing India’s dominance in the ICC. He argued that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) exerts disproportionate influence over the ICC, leading to unequal treatment of member nations. Sethi added that both Bangladesh and Pakistan now share a common view that it is time to stand up against such policies.

He also noted that discussions between the Pakistan government and the PCB are ongoing regarding the boycott decision, expressing hope that talks may yield a positive outcome before the scheduled match.

Pakistan has announced that it will consult its government before deciding whether to play India if the two teams meet in the knockout stage of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The statement came from Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, who told reporters in Colombo that the decision to boycott the group-stage match against India was made by the government, not the players. He added that any future decision regarding a semifinal or final against India would also depend on government advice.

The controversy follows the International Cricket Council’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament lineup, a move Pakistan has publicly protested as unfair. Pakistan’s government responded by boycotting the group-stage match against India. The Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier supported Bangladesh’s stance of not traveling to India and suggested hosting Bangladesh’s matches in Sri Lanka.

By forfeiting the group-stage match, Pakistan will lose two points, which could negatively affect its net run rate. Captain Salman acknowledged the challenge, saying the team aims to focus on playing good cricket despite limited room for error and unpredictable weather conditions.

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has signed a direct contract with Lahore Qalandars, the reigning champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), for 64.4 million Pakistani rupees. The franchise announced the deal on Thursday afternoon through social media, confirming that Mustafizur will be a key part of their foreign pace attack. The Qalandars described him as a returning member of their family, recalling his previous stints with the team in 2016 and 2018.

The move comes shortly after Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur following political and religious pressure in India. His participation in the PSL was confirmed on January 6, though the team was not disclosed at that time. Mustafizur previously played five matches for Lahore Qalandars in the 2018 season, taking four wickets with an economy rate of 6.43.

Lahore Qalandars, one of the most successful PSL teams with three titles, currently hold the championship. Last season, Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain took 13 wickets in seven matches for the same team.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has voiced concern over what he sees as inconsistency and double standards in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision-making. Speaking on a Sky Sports podcast, he said recent actions by the ICC and some powerful cricket boards suggest unequal treatment that could undermine fairness and balance in world cricket. Hussain acknowledged the ICC’s challenges when teams cancel tours at the last moment but questioned whether the same strictness applies to all nations equally.

He cited a hypothetical scenario where a strong cricketing nation, such as India, might withdraw from a tournament citing government restrictions, asking whether the ICC would respond with the same firmness. Hussain emphasized that rules should be applied consistently to all teams and called for transparency and fairness in cricket governance.

Referring to a recent controversy, he mentioned that the issue began when the BCCI removed Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL squad, citing the current situation between Bangladesh and India. Hussain warned that such board-level decisions are affecting on-field behavior and damaging cricket’s image, urging the ICC to adopt uniform policies for all nations.