Afridi, long known for championing the separation of sport and politics, admitted he was unhappy with the development. At the same time, he publicly backed the stance taken by his government.

Pakistan have boycotted their group-stage match against India at the T20 World Cup which starts on Saturday. They had been considering pulling out of the tournament following the withdrawal of Bangladesh who had cited safety fears over travelling to India.

In a post on his X account, Mohsin Naqvi said that he had a productive meeting with Shehbaz Sharif, where he briefed him on the matter. The final decision will either be taken on January 30 (Friday) or February 2 (Monday).

Pakistan have so far delayed a decision regarding their participation in the T20 World Cup 2026, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 plans leaked in a deleted WhatsApp message; Will Men in Green compete? Here're details

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to clear its stance in the coming days, either this Friday or Monday.

It is understood that the Pakistan cricket team has been booked to travel to Colombo, which in other words mean that they would participate in the marquee event.

Australia's T20I squad has arrived in Lahore for a series against Pakistan, which serves as final preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, Pakistan's participation in the tournament remains uncertain pending government approval,