The T20 World Cup begins on Saturday in India and Sri Lanka, with a chance for fresh faces to shine in the global spotlight.

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul thanked Pakistan for standing by Bangladesh after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed his country’s decision to boycott their T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 was in protest of Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament.

"Let’s get the politics out of it," Lee, who ended his 13-year international career in 2012, said in 'Mr. Cricket UAE' podcast.

It is the first time any official from either the Pakistan government or the PCB has publicly addressed the reasons for the boycott.

On the field, Pakistan looks settled, sharp and ready. Off the field, however, attention shifted from cricketing form to a decision that could define their campaign.

This group is there for the taking and may prove to deliver some shock results.

India are a popular pick as tournament favourites, coming off scintillating form that has seen them win 48 of their last 56 T20I games dating back to October 2023.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the early stages of the Twenty20 World Cup as he recovers from hamstring and Achilles injuries in another setback for Australia.

He added that the ICC has allowed double standards in the past and failed to address such situations.

The Sydney Morning Herald, citing industry sources involved in confidential negotiations, reported that each India-Pakistan game carries an estimated value of around USD 250 million, given its billion-plus global audience.

Indian National Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised the politicisation of cricket, calling Pakistan’s boycott of their T20 World Cup 2026 match against India “disgraceful” and urging all parties to “contact each other on an emergency basis” to resolve the issue.

The spark that lit this wildfire wasn’t a war, a border clash, or even a match. It was the quiet exclusion of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from an Indian Premier League franchise in early January -- a decision that, at the time, felt like just another cricketing call.

The government of Pakistan decided on Sunday to allow its cricket team participate in the Men’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 but barred it from playing against India on February 15.

Bangladesh’s decision not to play its 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches in India has raised serious concerns about India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, according to a report from The Guardian.

The ICC and the World Cricketers Association (WCA) are locked in a fresh dispute over player terms, including name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, ahead of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, reports ESPNCricinfo.

Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup after failing to recover fully from a lingering back injury.

Bangladesh cricket team may have been replaced by Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, but two Bangladeshi umpires will be part of the umpiring panel for the 20-team tournament, scheduled to begin on February 7.

The former England opening batter, Mark Butcher, has backed the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup 2026 after the latter refused to travel to India due to security concerns.

Despite talks of Pakistan boycotting the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to be held in Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8, reports have emerged that the team has already booked flights to Colombo for the marquee event.

India batter Ajinkya Rahane said Pakistan “does not have the guts” to pull out of the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8.