Pakistan to Participate in T20 World Cup but Skip Match Against India
Pakistan will compete in the men’s T20 World Cup starting later this month but will not take part in their scheduled group-stage match against India, tournament officials confirmed.
The decision follows internal deliberations by Pakistani authorities after Bangladesh withdrew from the competition, citing security concerns related to travel in India.
Despite approving Pakistan’s overall participation, the government has instructed the national team not to play the high-profile match against India, scheduled for 15 February 2026.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral men’s cricket outside major ICC tournaments since 2013 due to longstanding political tensions.
India, meanwhile, have not toured Pakistan since 2008. Under an agreement reached last year, the two nations are supposed to face each other at neutral venues when either country hosts an ICC event.
Accordingly, the World Cup fixture between Pakistan and India was set to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In an official statement, the Pakistan government said it had “granted approval” for the team’s participation in the tournament but made it clear that the Pakistan Cricket Team “shall not take the field” for the match against India.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) reacted strongly, expressing concern over what it described as “selective participation.” The global governing body said Pakistan’s position conflicted with the principles of international tournaments, where all qualified teams are expected to compete according to the official schedule.
The ICC stated that while it respects the role of governments in national policy matters, refusing to play a scheduled match undermines the integrity of the competition and negatively affects fans worldwide, including those in Pakistan. It added that it was awaiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and urged the board to work toward a “mutually acceptable resolution.”
Tournament playing conditions have not yet been published, leaving uncertainty over potential sanctions. However, regulations from the previous T20 World Cup stated that if a team refuses to play, the match may be recorded as conceded or awarded to the opposing side.
Pakistan had already announced their squad for the 20-team tournament, which begins on 7 February, while noting that final participation depended on government clearance.
Bangladesh had earlier requested that their matches be moved from India to co-host Sri Lanka, citing safety concerns. The ICC rejected the request, stating there was no credible security threat. Bangladesh subsequently withdrew from the tournament, with Scotland named as their replacement.
Pakistan have been drawn into Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States. They enter the World Cup in strong form after completing a 3–0 T20 series whitewash against Australia, capped by a 111-run victory on Sunday.
