Pakistan will not play against India on Feb 15 in T20 World Cup

Staff Report

LAHORE: After around a week of uncertainty, the government of Pakistan decided on Sunday to allow its team to participate in the Men’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 but barred it from playing against India on February 15, when the Green Shirts were scheduled to play their only group stage match against the arch-rivals.  “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 said. On Monday, Pakistan Cricket Board chief and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the possibility of a boycott of the T20 World Cup loomed over Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament. After the meeting, Naqvi had said he had briefed the PM on the “International Cricket Council (ICC) matter” and a “final decision would be taken either on Friday or next Monday”.

The meeting took place as questions were raised about Pakistan’s participation in the tournament following the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland. Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland on January 24, following their refusal to tour India over safety concerns in the wake of soured political relations between the Asian neighbours. The governing ICC had rejected Bangladesh’s request to move their matches to tournament co-host Sri Lanka, saying it was not feasible to change the schedule so close to the February 7 start of the tournament. Hours before the ICC had announced its decision, Naqvi had said that Bangladesh was being treated unfairly and should be allowed to participate in the tournament. At the time, he had said that Pakistan’s participation was still not confirmed. “The prime minister is not in Pakistan right now. When he returns, I’ll be able to give you our final decision,” Naqvi had said.

The events underline the current tension in South Asian cricket. The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on February 7. Pakistan have been placed in the same group as defending champions India, but will be play all their matches in Sri Lanka under an arrangement brokered by the ICC, allowing them to play at a neutral venue. Following India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in 2025, a “hybrid model” was decided upon whereby India played all their matches in Dubai, chosen as a neutral venue. As per the compromise, Pakistan are set to play all their matches at the upcoming T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Following Pakistan’s decision of not playing against India, Indian veteran commentator raised questions in a post on X.  “It will be very interesting to see the response of the ICC if Pakistan go to the World Cup but don’t play India. I don’t know the legal position, or how the precedence could play out, but I won’t be surprised if the ICC asks that the broadcaster’s loss be deducted from Pakistan’s share of ICC revenues. And, by the way, what if it is an India-Pakistan final?” he said.