Amidst a backdrop of political tensions and boycott calls, the Indian cricket team is reportedly set to travel to Sri Lanka for their scheduled T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash against Pakistan on February 15. Despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) echoing the government's decision to boycott the match, sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have confirmed that the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will adhere to the International Cricket Council (ICC) protocols and proceed with their travel plans to Colombo.

The decision by Pakistan to boycott the match stems from the ICC's removal of Bangladesh from the tournament. The Pakistan government conveyed their decision through a post on social media, stating that while the team has approval to participate in the World T20, they "shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India". This move is viewed as a political protest.

According to sources, Team India will follow all ICC-mandated procedures, including training as scheduled and attending a pre-match press conference at the R Premadasa Stadium. "Team India will travel to Sri Lanka and follow ICC protocol. They will practice as scheduled, do the press conference, reach the stadium on time and wait for the match referee to call off the match," a source stated.

Under ICC regulations, a walkover is only awarded if a team fails to appear at the ground for the coin toss at the scheduled time. Therefore, India is obligated to fulfill all match-day procedures. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team are expected to arrive at the ground on time for the toss, and if Pakistan does not appear, the match referee will formally award India a walkover, granting them two points in the group standings.

The ICC has expressed its concern over Pakistan's decision, warning of potential punitive sanctions and highlighting the significant and long-term implications for cricket in Pakistan. The governing body stressed that such a decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide. It remains to be seen whether the ICC will take any further action against Pakistan for their boycott.

The India-Pakistan fixture is one of cricket's most highly anticipated matches, and its absence from the T20 World Cup would be a significant blow to the tournament. The ICC has consistently placed the two teams in the same group since 2012, despite the frozen bilateral ties, recognizing the immense value of this contest.

This is not the first instance of political tensions impacting the tournament. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland after refusing to travel to India due to safety concerns.