The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan will boycott its match against India at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, ESPNcricinfo reported, citing an announcement from the Pakistani government.
According to a statement posted on the Government of
Pakistan’s official X account, the government granted permission for the
national team to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament but said the team
“shall not take the field” in the match scheduled for Feb. 15, 2026, against
India. The statement did not specify a reason for the decision.
The India-Pakistan fixture is traditionally the most
commercially lucrative match in any ICC tournament. Since 2012, the
International Cricket Council has placed the two teams in the same group at
global events despite strained diplomatic relations that have prevented bilateral
series for 14 years. If Pakistan follows through, the 2026 T20 World Cup would
become the first men’s ICC event since 2010 without an India-Pakistan match.
Uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation intensified after
Bangladesh was removed from the tournament on Jan. 24, 2026, following its
refusal to play in India over security concerns. Pakistan had publicly
supported Bangladesh’s request for an alternative venue and accused the ICC of
applying double standards in favor of India. Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman
Mohsin Naqvi had said the government would make the final decision on
participation after consulting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Speculation grew that Pakistan might avoid a full tournament
boycott and instead refuse only to play India. The PCB announced its World Cup
squad before the ICC deadline, and a brief statement — later deleted —
indicated the team would travel to Sri Lanka. ESPNcricinfo said it had
contacted the PCB for clarification on the decision to forfeit the India match.
Pakistan is in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the
Netherlands and the United States, with all its matches scheduled in Sri Lanka,
a co-host of the tournament with India. Pakistan is set to face the Netherlands
on Feb. 7, 2026, the opening day of the competition, followed by the United
States on Feb. 10 and Namibia on Feb. 18. If Pakistan boycotts the India
fixture, it will forfeit the two points from that match.
Under ICC playing conditions, a forfeit would negatively
affect Pakistan’s net run rate, while India’s net run rate would remain
unchanged. Clause 16.10.7 states that in the event of a forfeit, the full 20
overs of the defaulting team’s innings shall be counted in calculating that
team’s average runs per over for the relevant stage of the competition.
