Pakistan will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but will boycott its highly anticipated group-stage match against arch-rival India, scheduled for February 15, the Government of Pakistan announced on Sunday.
In an official statement, the government confirmed its approval for the national team’s participation in the tournament while making clear its decision regarding the India fixture.
“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 statement said.
The unprecedented move ensures Pakistan remain part of the global tournament while forfeiting one of cricket’s biggest marquee clashes. The decision follows days of uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation after the International Cricket Council removed Bangladesh from the tournament, citing security-related concerns over playing matches in India.
The development came after a high-level meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The PCB had earlier indicated that the final call on participation would be taken early this week, but the announcement was made a day earlier than expected.
While Pakistan will travel to India and Sri Lanka for the multi-nation event, the boycott of the India match is expected to result in a forfeit, handing India full points for the fixture. The ICC has yet to issue an official response regarding the implications of the decision.
Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States. Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan are scheduled to begin their campaign on the opening day of the tournament on February 7 against the Netherlands.
The T20 World Cup is set to run from February 7 to March 8 across venues in India and Sri Lanka, with the Pakistan-India fixture originally slated to be played in Colombo.
