The 2026 T20 World Cup drama reached a fever pitch this morning, January 31, 2026, after an alleged leaked WhatsApp message from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appeared to confirm team’s travel plans, only to be quickly deleted and edited.
According to RevSportz, early this morning, PCB’s official media WhatsApp group released a statement that included a crucial detail: a confirmation that the 15-member national squad would travel to Colombo on February 2.
This specific line was viewed as a “smoking gun,” effectively ending weeks-long boycott threat over ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland.
What happened next?
Within two minutes, the message was deleted. A revised press release was posted shortly after, which omitted the travel details and reverted to vague language about the “squad status.”
The report suggest that the “leak” was a genuine logistical update posted prematurely. PCB is likely holding back a formal announcement to maintain “political optics” until the final government deadline on Monday, February 2.
Whats app msg deleted within seconds by pak media manager ? Why https://t.co/fu9AhjF9tT
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) January 31, 2026
Will Pakistan compete?
Despite the digital flip-flop, all signs point to “Yes.”
Reports from Lahore confirm that the squad, led by Salman Ali Agha, has already booked seats on an Air Lanka flight to Colombo.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi continues to state that the final decision rests with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but the logistical movement suggests that a boycott is no longer a realistic option.
