Pakistan is set to boycott the match against India in this month’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan Cricket Board president Mohsin Naqvi said last week that the team could withdraw completely from the next match. Bangladesh was excluded from the tournament for refusing to play in India due to political tensions and security concerns.
Naqvi, who accused the ICC of double standards and favoring India, said a final decision would be taken after consultation with the government.
Pakistan qualify for the tournament but do not face India as scheduled in Colombo on Sunday February 15, instead forfeiting the two points on offer for victory.
As per ICC match conditions, Pakistan’s net run rate is affected by forfeits while India’s is not.
India is grouped with Pakistan in the ICC event as the match is incredibly lucrative.
A post on X by the Pakistani government on Sunday reads: “Government… approves Pakistan cricket team to participate in ICC World T20 2026.
“However, the Pakistan cricketteam will not play in the match against India on February 15, 2026.”
Pakistan, the 2009 T20 World Cup winners and two-time runners-up, will face Netherlands (February 7), USA (February 10) and Namibia (February 18) in Group A.
The ICC ensures that India and Pakistan are always in the same World Cup group as it is the most watched and most lucrative match in international cricket.
Pakistan and India have not played in a major competition since 2013 due to political issues, and India has not played Pakistan since 2008.
All of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup matches will be played in Sri Lanka, including whether they qualify for the semi-finals and/or finals.
Bangladesh have been replaced by next-placed Scotland, who are yet to qualify for the World Cup, while the European nation joins England, West Indies, Nepal and debutants Italy in Group C.
Watch the Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from 7 February to 8 March. Stream without a contract with Sky Sports or NOW.
