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| The Pakistan government has said that Pakistan will not play India on February 15 AFP/Getty Images |
Notably, the government did not offer any explanation for why the boycott was being pursued. The statement granted blanket approval for Pakistan's participation in the event but drew a firm line at the India encounter.
A Blow to the Tournament's Biggest Fixture
The India-Pakistan match is consistently the most commercially valuable and widely viewed game at any ICC event. The governing body has deliberately placed the two nations in the same group at every ICC tournament since 2012, well aware of the enormous global interest their clashes generate. However, the two countries have not faced each other in a bilateral series in over 14 years, a reflection of the strained diplomatic ties between them. With this boycott, the 2026 T20 World Cup is on track to become the first men's ICC event since 2010 without an India-Pakistan group stage encounter. It remains unclear how a potential knockout meeting between the two sides would be handled.
Background: Bangladesh's Removal and Growing Tensions
The situation traces back to late January, when Bangladesh were ejected from the tournament after declining to play matches hosted in India, citing security concerns. Pakistan was the most vocal critic of the ICC's decision, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi accusing the board of showing favoritism toward India by refusing to accommodate Bangladesh's request for an alternative venue.
Following Bangladesh's removal, Naqvi indicated that the final call on Pakistan's participation would rest with the Pakistani government. After consulting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Naqvi said the decision would be communicated by the end of the week or early the following week — and on the eve of that self-imposed deadline, the government appears to have settled the matter.
Speculation Had Been Building
In the days leading up to Sunday's announcement, widespread speculation suggested that Pakistan would not withdraw entirely from the tournament but would instead target the India match specifically. This impression was bolstered when the PCB named a squad ahead of the ICC's registration deadline. A statement that was briefly released to the media — and subsequently deleted — also appeared to signal that the team would indeed travel to Sri Lanka.
What It Means on the Field
Pakistan are drawn in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA, with all their matches being played in Sri Lanka. Their remaining schedule includes an opener against the Netherlands on February 7, a match against the USA on February 10, and a fixture versus Namibia on February 18.
By forfeiting the India game, Pakistan will lose the two points on offer. Under ICC playing conditions, the boycott will also damage Pakistan's net run rate. The relevant clause stipulates that a forfeiting team's net run rate calculation will factor in a full 20-over innings at zero runs, dragging down their average. India's figures, by contrast, will not be affected in any way.
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