Pakistan has announced its participation in the T20 World Cup 2026, set to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. However, in a surprising turn of events, the government has decided that the Pakistan cricket team will boycott its group-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
The decision to participate in the tournament while forfeiting the match against India was made by the Government of Pakistan, following a meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government conveyed its decision via a statement on social media, stating that while the team has approval to participate in the T20 World Cup, they "shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India". The reason for this decision was not specified in the statement.
This move is perceived as a sign of protest after the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. The ICC's decision followed the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) request to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. Pakistan had supported Bangladesh's request, with the PCB reportedly writing to Bangladesh to offer to host their matches. However, the ICC deemed it unfeasible to change the schedule so close to the tournament.
Tensions between the cricket boards of India and Pakistan have been high, further fueled by India's refusal to tour Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. Other incidents, such as India's refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup 2025 after a terror attack in Pahalgam, have also contributed to the strained relationship.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding their participation, the Pakistan team is scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka, where they will play their matches. The team had already arrived in Sri Lanka on January 5 for a three-match T20I series to prepare for the World Cup. Pakistan is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup, alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. They will begin their campaign on February 7 against the Netherlands.
The PCB had delayed announcing the team's World Cup jersey and was prepared to host a four-team tournament in Lahore if the team had not been able to participate in the T20 World Cup. With the government's decision made, the focus now shifts to Pakistan's performance in the tournament, excluding the anticipated match against India.