LAHORE: The Government of Pakistan has officially confirmed that the national men’s cricket team will take part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but will not play its scheduled group-stage match against India.
The announcement was made on Sunday following a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The decision puts an end to days of speculation regarding Pakistan’s participation in the global tournament amid growing political and logistical concerns.
Pakistan were originally set to face arch-rivals India on 15 February 2026 in Colombo as part of the group-stage fixtures. However, the government has now clarified that while Pakistan will compete in the mega event, the team will not take the field for that particular encounter.
In an official statement shared on social media platform X, the government stated:
“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 development comes after weeks of uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s stance on the tournament. Tensions escalated after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift its matches away from India due to security concerns. That decision triggered discussions within Pakistan regarding a potential boycott or partial withdrawal from the event.
On 25 January, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to brief him on the evolving ICC situation. Following the meeting, Naqvi stated that all options were under consideration and that a final call would be made after further consultations. The government’s latest announcement now confirms Pakistan’s conditional participation.
The situation further intensified on 24 January when the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament after Bangladesh declined to travel to India, citing safety issues. This move added pressure on regional teams and reignited debates over the tournament’s hybrid hosting model.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on 7 February, with matches jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Under the hybrid arrangement, Pakistan’s group-stage fixtures will be played entirely in Sri Lanka, despite India being a co-host.
Pakistan will kick off their campaign against the Netherlands on the opening day of the tournament. They have been placed in Group A, alongside the USA, Namibia, and India—although the India fixture will now remain unplayed.
While the absence of a Pakistan–India clash may disappoint fans worldwide, officials maintain that the decision was made after careful consideration of national interests. The ICC is expected to announce further details regarding points allocation and scheduling adjustments in the coming days.
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