Pakistan will take part in the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup but have confirmed they will not play their scheduled match against India, despite both teams qualifying for the tournament.
The announcement follows approval from the Pakistani government, which cleared the national team to compete while instructing them to stay away from the high-profile clash against India on 15 February 2026. The match was due to be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka, a neutral venue selected under an ICC agreement designed to manage political sensitivities between the two nations.
Cricket ties between Pakistan and India have remained limited for more than a decade, with the teams meeting only during major international tournaments. Ongoing diplomatic tensions have also prevented India from touring Pakistan since 2008.
The International Cricket Council responded by expressing concern over Pakistan’s decision, warning that selective participation could damage the credibility of global events.
In a statement, the ICC said it was awaiting official confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board but stressed that refusing to play scheduled fixtures goes against the principles of fair competition.
While acknowledging that governments have authority over national policy matters, the ICC said the move was not in the best interests of the sport or its global fan base. The governing body urged Pakistan’s cricket authorities to engage in discussions aimed at finding a solution acceptable to all parties.
At present, tournament regulations for this edition of the World Cup have not been released. However, previous ICC rules indicate that a team declining to play could see the match awarded to the opposition or recorded as a concession.
Pakistan had earlier named their squad for the 20-team competition, which begins on 7 February, though officials had stated participation would depend on final government consent.
The situation unfolded after Bangladesh withdrew from the tournament, citing safety concerns over playing in India. Their request to shift fixtures to Sri Lanka was rejected by the ICC, which said no credible security risks were identified. Scotland were subsequently brought in as a replacement.
Pakistan are grouped with India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States in Group A. They head into the tournament on a high after securing a dominant 3–0 T20 series victory over Australia, highlighted by a 111-run win in the final match.
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