Pakistan has confirmed participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 but will boycott its high-profile February 15 match against India. The decision raises concerns over ICC penalties, revenues, and the tournament’s future schedule.
Pakistan to boycott February 15 match against India
New Delhi: Pakistan has confirmed its participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but will boycott its scheduled group-stage match against India on February 15. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash was slated to take place in Colombo, but the Pakistan government has decided that the national team will not take the field for that match.
The decision was officially announced by the Government of Pakistan through its social media handle on Sunday. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the government said it has granted approval for the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the global tournament, but with the exception of the match against India.
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This announcement puts an end to days of uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament and clarifies the country’s position ahead of the marquee event.
According to sources, the decision was taken after the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches out of India, citing security concerns. The ICC’s move to remove Bangladesh from the tournament reportedly influenced Pakistan’s stance, leading to the partial boycott.
While Pakistan’s refusal to play the February 15 match would result in a walkover victory for India, the ICC retains the authority to impose financial penalties or sanctions on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for failing to fulfil a scheduled fixture.
The boycott also raises concerns over the tournament’s commercial impact, as India-Pakistan matches are among the highest revenue-generating fixtures in world cricket.
Earlier this week, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating that a final decision would be taken between January 30 and February 2. However, the government announced its verdict a day earlier than expected.
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Pakistan had also delayed the official unveiling of its T20 World Cup jersey, which was reportedly postponed until clarity emerged over the team’s participation.
Pakistan, champions of the 2009 T20 World Cup, have been placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. The team, led by Salman Ali Agha, will begin its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
With the boycott decision now official, the T20 World Cup 2026 faces renewed uncertainty, particularly around scheduling, revenues, and potential disciplinary action.
