PTI
Karachi, Updated At : 01:34 PM Feb 05, 2026 IST
Pakistan on Sunday said it will boycott its high-profile men’s T20 World Cup group match against India, while still taking part in the rest of the tournament beginning February 7.
The government conveyed the decision in an official social media post, granting permission for the national team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026 but stipulating that the Pakistan side “shall not take the field” for the February 15 fixture against India in Colombo. The move is widely seen as a political protest after Bangladesh was removed from the tournament when the ICC declined its request to move matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had indicated it would reassess participation after Bangladesh’s exclusion in a show of solidarity. The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, a step that provoked sharp reactions in Pakistan’s cricketing and political circles, though several former players and officials warned against any action that could damage Pakistan cricket.
A walkover would award full points to India, and the ICC retains the right to levy financial penalties on the PCB. Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, then play the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18; all group matches are set for the SSC ground in Colombo.
A source close to the PCB said Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will brief the media soon. It remains unclear whether the government’s directive was taken unilaterally or with the PCB’s agreement, and no clarification has been provided on what would happen if Pakistan and India meet in the knockout stages.
India-Pakistan matches are the most watched fixtures in ICC events and a major source of broadcast and sponsorship revenue. Last year in the Asia Cup, the two teams met three times in the UAE.
