Pakistan to Boycott Match Against India in T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan will travel to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but will not play their scheduled group match against India, after the government formally cleared the team for the tournament while carving out a firm exception for the high-profile fixture.

The announcement came through a post from the Government of Pakistan’s official X account, ending days of speculation around a possible full withdrawal. The message confirmed participation in the event but made the position on the India clash explicit: “The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”

No detailed reason accompanied the decision, but it follows weeks of tension around tournament logistics and venue concerns. Pakistan is placed in Group A and is due to play their group matches in Sri Lanka under the hybrid hosting arrangement, with India also listed as co-host.

The development puts one of world cricket’s biggest commercial and sporting contests in doubt. India versus Pakistan games have been central to ICC tournament scheduling for more than a decade, often locked into group stages to guarantee a marquee clash. If the boycott holds, this will be the first men’s ICC event in over 15 years without an India vs Pakistan match on the field.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had earlier indicated that the board would align its decision with government advice after disputes emerged around Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament for refusing to travel to India. Pakistan had publicly supported Bangladesh’s stance and criticised the ICC’s handling of the matter.

Tournament regulations mean a no-show would count as a forfeit. Pakistan would lose the two points from the India game, and their net run rate would take a statistical hit because the full quota of overs would be counted against them. India, under the same rule set, would receive the points without net run rate damage.

Pakistan is still scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against USA and Namibia. The ICC has not yet issued a detailed response, but broadcasters and organisers now face a major gap in the event’s headline schedule.