'I don’t think they have the guts': Former India captain's blunt take on Pakistan's threat to boycott T20 World Cup 2026

With just over a week remaining until the start of the T20 World Cup 2026, all eyes are on the Pakistan Cricket Board, which is yet to announce its final decision on whether it will participate in the marquee tournament. The PCB hinted about potentially boycotting the tournament following Bangladesh's exclusion from the World Cup. Subsequently, the chairman of Pakistan's board, Mohsin Naqvi, informed through social media that the PCB will follow the course which will be advised by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. As per the recent update, Pakistan will communicate its final decision on the matter on Friday or Monday.Thus, until PCB issues a statement declaring its decision and putting an end to the month-long drama, uncertainty over the Pakistan team's participation in the upcoming competition will remain prevalent.Ajinkya Rahane thinks Pakistan do not have the 'guts' to withdrawPCB's stance has sparked a range of opinions. In the context, former India captain Ajinkya Rahane has also commented on the row that has rocked the cricket world. According to Rahane, Pakistan lack the nerve to take the extreme step and will eventually decide to play the World Cup.“I don’t think they can do that. I don’t think they have the guts,” Rahane said on Cricbuzz.Why is PCB still undecided over participating in the T20 World Cup?The Pakistan Cricket Board had openly backed Bangladesh during its standoff with the ICC over the venue change of the T20 World Cup 2026. The BCB levelled security concerns over sending the team to India and hence requested the governing council to shift its matches to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC rejected Bangladesh's plea, stating that adequate security would be provided during the tournament and that there was no credible or verifiable threat to playing in India. As both sides refused to back down, the ICC made the stringent decision of replacing Bangladesh with Scotland in Group C of the tournament.Since Pakistan were in Bangladesh's corner from the beginning, it may pull out of the World Cup in solidarity with BCB. PCB Boycott unlikelyAs per a report published by PTI, the Pakistan Cricket Board has already scheduled its T20 World Cup squad to depart for Colombo early on February 2, virtually ruling out any possibility of boycotting the tournament."The PCB has already made travel arrangements for the World Cup squad to leave early morning on February 2 for Colombo," a source close to the board said on Thursday, as quoted by PTI.