Staging another drama, Pakistan government has confirmed that the Men in Green will boycott the T20 World Cup match against India. The government of Pakistan stated that Pakistan team won't take the field in the T20 World Cup clash against India on February 15 in Colombo.
“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,” a post of the government’s X account read.
With this Pakistan have made it clear that they won't be pulling out of the tournament but won't feature in the clash against India. This decision was finalised on February 1 following a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The tension stems from the PCB's dissatisfaction with the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, a move Naqvi has publicly criticized as unfair.
The timeline for this decision was moved up unexpectedly. While Naqvi had previously indicated that a verdict on Pakistan's participation would be delivered on either January 30 or February 2, the government chose to announce its stance a day early. The centerpiece of this announcement—the decision to skip the marquee fixture against India—serves as a "bombshell" protest against the governing body, adding a significant layer of geopolitical and sporting tension to the 20-team event.
Reports from Pakistan indicate that the crucial meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commenced at 6:30 PM IST on Sunday. The timing of this session was critical, as it replaced the previously expected announcement dates of late January or early February. With the government’s final approval now public, the focus shifts to the logistical buildup for the team’s journey to Sri Lanka.
The uncertainty surrounding their participation had already impacted the team’s promotional schedule. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) previously postponed the official reveal of the World Cup jersey, stating that the event would only proceed once a definitive verdict on their involvement in the tournament's 10th edition was reached. Now that the decision to play—albeit with the notable boycott—has been made, the kit unveiling is expected to be rescheduled shortly.
Pakistan finds itself in Group A, competing alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. Led by captain Salman Ali Agha, the squad is set to open its campaign on the tournament’s first day, February 7, with a match against the Netherlands. While the team will proceed with these fixtures in Colombo, the decision to skip the February 15 clash with India remains a significant point of contention for the tournament's organizers.