Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has poured fuel on the ICC-Bangladesh controversy with his comments during the T20 World Cup 2026 captains' press conference in Colombo on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

After refusing to go to India for their group stage matches, Bangladesh was eliminated from the competition. Citing "security concerns," the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move their matches from India. However, the global governing body made it plain that the tournament schedule would not be altered.  

When asked about Bangladesh's removal from the T20 World Cup during the press conference, Agha responded that it was a "pity."

“Bangladeshis are our brothers; we are grateful for their support for Pakistan. It's a pity that they are not playing in the tournament,” Salman Ali Agha said, as quoted by RevSportz.

Pakistan declared that they would participate in the competition after Bangladesh was eliminated, but they would not play India on February 15.  When asked about the same, Salman stated that the decision not to play India in this T20 World Cup was taken by the Pakistan government and not them.

“The India game is not in our control. It’s the government’s decision, and we respect that. Whatever they are going to say, we will do that. And then, we have three other games, and we are very excited about that,” Agha added.

Without explaining, the Pakistani government declared on Sunday that its men's cricket team would not play in the February 15 match against bitter rivals India.

“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on February 15 against India,” the Pakistan government said in a post on X.

When asked what Pakistan would do if they met India in the semi-finals, Agha too sidestepped the subject.

“India’s game is not in our control. It was the government’s decision, and again, if we have to play them in the semi-final or the final, we have to go back to them and act on their advice,” he said.

On fans not getting to see an India vs. Pakistan match, Salman said, “There are three other games they can come and watch.”

Alongside India, Pakistan has been placed with Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA in Group A in the T20 World Cup 2026.

Agha will be leading his nation in a World Cup for the first time, and the skipper seems thrilled.

“It’s my first World Cup as a captain, and I’m very excited about that. I don’t know how to describe myself as a captain. It’s like people describe it, but as a captain, I just want to lead from the front, try to do as much as I can for my players, take the best out of them, and give them an environment where they can play their best,” he said.

Pakistan will start its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7.