ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to boycott its highly anticipated T20 World Cup match against India, scheduled for February 15, while still remaining part of the overall tournament.
The decision was announced on Sunday evening by the Government of Pakistan through its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to the statement, Islamabad has given formal clearance for the national team to compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, despite opting out of the fixture against India. The move follows the ICC’s decision to exclude Bangladesh from the event after Dhaka raised security-related concerns about playing matches in India.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has approved the participation of the Pakistan Cricket Team in the ICC World T20 2026,” the post read.
Earlier reports suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was weighing several protest measures linked to its World Cup participation, as it sought to demonstrate solidarity with Bangladesh. The board reportedly discussed ways to register its objections without fully withdrawing from the tournament.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi held consultations with senior board members and former players on the issue. These discussions also featured during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) workshop, where Naqvi was said to have spoken firmly in support of Bangladesh.
Sources quoted the PCB chief as saying that Bangladesh had been “mistreated” and should not be isolated, underlining Pakistan’s position of standing by the Bangladeshi team amid the controversy.
