Pakistan has officially announced it will boycott its high-profile T20 World Cup clash against India on February 15, while still participating in the rest of the tournament.
By MediaBites Desk l Feb. 1, 2026
The Government of Pakistan has announced that the national cricket team will boycott its T20 World Cup match against India, scheduled for February 15, 2026.
In a post on its official X account, the government said it had approved Pakistan’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and granted permission for the team to travel to Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament. However, the statement added that the Pakistan team “shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.” No reason was provided for the decision.
Pakistan’s participation in the tournament had been under scrutiny following comments by Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after Bangladesh were removed from the competition on January 24 for refusing to play in India over security concerns. Pakistan had publicly backed Bangladesh’s request for an alternative venue and accused the International Cricket Council of double standards, favoring India.
Naqvi had earlier said the final decision would rest with the government. After meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he indicated that all options remained open, with a decision expected by late January or early February.
Speculation had grown that Pakistan would avoid a full tournament boycott and instead target the high-profile match against India. That view gained traction after the PCB announced its World Cup squad within the ICC deadline and briefly issued — then deleted — a statement indicating the team would travel to Sri Lanka.
Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States. They are set to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.
Under ICC playing conditions, Pakistan will forfeit two points for the abandoned fixture against India. The forfeiture will also negatively impact Pakistan’s net run rate, while India’s net run rate will remain unaffected, according to ICC regulations.
The PCB has been contacted for clarification on the reasons behind the boycott but has yet to issue a response.
