Pakistan will participate in this month’s men’s T20 World Cup but will not play their scheduled fixture against co-hosts India, the government has confirmed.
Pakistan will play cricket World Cup government give go ahead @ICC but will boycott against India match on 15 February @BCCI Pakistan information minister @TararAttaullah confirmed pic.twitter.com/lVNiQLrb4l
— Azhar Javaid (@azharjavaiduk) February 1, 2026
The decision follows discussions about a possible boycott after Bangladesh pulled out of the tournament, citing security concerns over travelling to India. Political tensions have meant the two rivals have not faced each other outside major ICC tournaments since 2013, while India have not toured Pakistan since 2008.
Pakistan and India were due to meet in Colombo, Sri Lanka, under an agreement signed last year that requires the teams to play at neutral venues whenever either country hosts an ICC event.
In a statement, the Pakistani government said it had approved the national team’s participation in the tournament but clarified that “the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15 February 2026 against India.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) responded by calling Pakistan’s position “difficult to reconcile” and urged cricket authorities to find a “mutually acceptable resolution.” While the ICC said it respected the role of governments in national policy matters, it warned that selective participation undermines the spirit and integrity of global competitions.
“This position is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan,” the ICC said, adding that it expected the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider the long-term consequences and engage in dialogue.
The ICC has yet to release the tournament’s official playing conditions, so any potential sanctions remain unclear. However, rules from the previous edition state that a team refusing to play would result in the match being recorded as conceded or awarded.
Pakistan had already announced their squad for the 20-team tournament, which begins on 7 February, noting at the time that participation depended on government approval.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh had requested that their matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s other host. The ICC rejected the request last month, citing a lack of credible security threats. Bangladesh subsequently withdrew from the competition, with Scotland taking their place.
Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States. They enter the tournament in strong form after completing a 3–0 T20 series sweep against Australia, capped by a 111-run victory on Sunday.
