Pakistan will take part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but has announced it will not play the scheduled group match against India on February 15.
Pakistan has officially confirmed its participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but with a significant caveat that underscores ongoing political and sporting tensions in the region. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan announced on February 1 that while the national team will compete in the global tournament set to begin on February 7 across Sri Lanka and India, it will boycott the highly anticipated group match against arch‑rival India scheduled for February 15.
In a statement posted on the government’s official social media account, authorities said they have granted approval for the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the event but made it clear that the team shall not take the field in the fixture against India.
The decision comes amid broader controversy surrounding this year’s tournament, particularly after the International Cricket Council (ICC) removed Bangladesh from the competition when the Bangladesh Cricket Board requested their matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. Pakistan has repeatedly criticised the ICC’s handling of that situation, with officials and sources describing the move as unfair and reflective of partial treatment.
Pakistan’s decision to boycott only the India match — rather than withdraw entirely — follows earlier speculation that the team might pull out of the tournament completely in solidarity with Bangladesh. In recent days, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had delayed its final confirmation on participation pending government guidance, with intermittent reports suggesting all options, including a full boycott, were under consideration.
The forfeited match against India will likely have significant implications for the World Cup’s group standings and commercial interests, as India‑Pakistan matches are among the most watched in global cricket. Pakistan remains scheduled to play its other group fixtures against teams such as the Netherlands, Namibia and the United States.
