Pakistan refuses to play against India at T20 World Cup
Pakistan has announced it will refuse to play against India at the T20 World Cup later this month, despite confirming its participation in the tournament overall, reports BritPanorama.
The Pakistani government made the declaration on Sunday via its official X account, stating that while the national side had been granted approval to compete in the ICC World T20 2026, “the Pakistan cricket team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on February 15, 2026 against India.”
The fixture was due to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the competition alongside India. No specific explanation accompanied the announcement, though the decision follows weeks of escalating tensions between Pakistan cricket officials and the ICC over the treatment of Bangladesh.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi had previously indicated the team might withdraw entirely from the competition after Bangladesh were expelled for declining to travel to India, citing political tensions and security fears. Naqvi levelled accusations of preferential treatment at cricket’s governing body, claiming the ICC had applied different standards to different nations.
“Bangladesh has been hard done by,” Naqvi stated last week. “You can’t have double standards. You can’t say for one country [India] they can do whatever they want and for the others to have to do the complete opposite.”
The ICC responded to Pakistan’s announcement by expressing concern over what it termed “selective participation” in a global sporting event. In its statement, the governing body said: “This position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule.”
The ICC emphasised that its tournaments are founded upon sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency, and fairness, adding that selective participation “undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions.” While acknowledging governments’ roles in national policy matters, the ICC stated the decision was “not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.”
The organisation called on the PCB to seek “a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”
The precise punishment Pakistan faces remains uncertain, though previous tournament regulations suggest the match would be either conceded or awarded to India. Under prior ICC playing conditions, any forfeiture would negatively affect Pakistan’s net run-rate while leaving India’s unaffected.
Pakistan, who claimed the T20 World Cup title in 2009 and finished as runners-up twice, will contest their remaining Group A matches against the Netherlands on February 7, the USA on February 10, and Namibia on February 18.
The two cricketing nations have not met outside major ICC tournaments since 2013 due to ongoing political difficulties, with India last touring Pakistan in 2008. All of Pakistan’s fixtures at this World Cup are scheduled for Sri Lanka, including any potential semi-final or final appearances.
In a world where sport often mirrors the political landscape, this latest development serves as a stark reminder of how deeply intertwined cricket and international relations can become.
