LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly refuted claims circulating in Indian media that it contacted the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding a refusal to play its group-stage T20 World Cup match against India scheduled for February 15, 2026.
Amir Mir, the PCB’s official spokesperson, clarified that the board has not made any such communication with the ICC. “We reject the false claims made by Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta,” Mir said, emphasizing that the reports are misleading.
Mir further criticized certain sections of the Indian media for spreading misinformation. “As usual, portions of the Indian press are busy circulating fiction. A little patience will soon reveal who actually reached out and who did not,” he added.
The controversy emerged after Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta claimed that the PCB had initiated dialogue with the ICC to resolve the ongoing World Cup issue. Gupta’s post on X suggested that the PCB allegedly first indicated a withdrawal from the India match, citing ‘Force Majeure’ conditions and linking it to a tweet from the Pakistani government. According to Gupta, the ICC responded by seeking clarification on the legal and procedural aspects of the so-called Force Majeure claim. He further wrote that the PCB had now approached the ICC to “resolve” the matter.
However, PCB officials have dismissed these assertions, clarifying that no formal approach has been made to the ICC regarding the India match. The board insists that reports claiming otherwise are completely unfounded.
This dispute comes after a statement issued by the Government of Pakistan on its official X account last week. The government confirmed permission for the national team to participate in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka but explicitly instructed that the team “shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.” The government’s statement did not provide a detailed reason for this decision, leaving room for speculation.
“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,” the post read.
Industry experts note that while the government has given clear instructions, the PCB has yet to formally notify the ICC regarding the decision not to play against India. This has fueled speculation and media narratives in India, which the PCB now seeks to correct.
The Pakistan Cricket Board continues to emphasize adherence to official protocols and insists that no premature communication has occurred with the ICC. PCB officials urge the media and cricket fans to wait for verified updates before drawing conclusions regarding the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash.
Read More: ICC Seeks Resolution for India-Pakistan T20 Clash
