Pakistan to boycott India match, to play rest of T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan Government has granted permission for its men’s cricket team to take part in the upcoming T20 World Cup, but said it would boycott the league stage match against archrival India on February 15
Both sides were set to clash in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a Group A fixture.
Pakistan refused to play its fixtures in India due to political hostilities, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its matches to neutral Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh also tried to have its matches moved out of India due to security fears, but the ICC rejected the request. An angry Bangladesh then withdrew from the tournament, and Scotland was drafted in as a replacement.
Pakistan had indicated that it may boycott the event in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Pakistan backed Bangladesh’s stance in last week’s ICC Board virtual meeting, saying there was a precedence of relocating India’s matches on security fears from Pakistan in last year’s Champions Trophy.
Then India, which has not toured Pakistan since 2008, played all its matches in Dubai.
The same option was given to Pakistan which will not tour India and play its T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka under an agreement signed last year saying the two countries will play on neutral venues whenever one of them hosts an ICC event.
Earlier this month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India told Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh cricketer Mustafizur Rahman due to political tensions
