The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan will play archrival India in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after cricket’s global governing body confirmed that all members will honor their participation commitments, the International Cricket Council said Monday.
In a statement, the ICC said its talks with the Pakistan
Cricket Board were part of a broader engagement aimed at ensuring cooperation,
neutrality and integrity. The discussions followed Pakistan’s earlier
indication that government restrictions might limit the team’s involvement to
select matches.
The ICC said all members agreed to meet their obligations
for ICC events to ensure the success of the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Pakistan opened the tournament with a three-wicket victory
over the Netherlands and will face the United States on Feb. 10 in Colombo
before its highly anticipated match against India.
The ICC also addressed Bangladesh’s absence from the 2026
tournament during the same round of talks with regional boards. The governing
body reaffirmed Bangladesh’s status as a Full Member and said the team’s
non-participation would not result in financial or sporting penalties.
Bangladesh will also have the opportunity to host an ICC event before the 2031
Men’s Cricket World Cup, subject to standard procedures.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta called Bangladesh’s absence
“regrettable” but said the board remains a key part of global cricket and a
priority for long-term development.
The ICC said all stakeholders remain committed to continued
dialogue and cooperation “in the best interests of the sport.”
