Pakistan has made a decision regarding the T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to be held from the 7th of this month, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan is ready to participate in the tournament, but has decided to boycott the match against India. The Pakistani government has given its approval for the team to participate.
The India-Pakistan match is scheduled for February 15th. This is a high-voltage match, and all eyes are usually on it, but now Pakistan has decided to boycott this match.
Threatened To Withdraw From The Tournament
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had threatened to withdraw from the T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh. He was also reprimanded by the ICC for this. Naqvi then said that the final decision regarding participation in the World Cup would be taken by the government. The government has now informed the PCB of its decision. A post on the official X handle of the Pakistani government stated, “The Government of Pakistan has granted permission to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026. However, the Pakistan cricket team will not take the field for the match against India on February 15th.”
Reason For The Decision
Pakistan has taken this decision after Bangladesh was excluded from the T20 World Cup 2026 by the ICC. Bangladesh wanted to play all its matches in Sri Lanka because, according to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, their players faced security threats in India. The ICC did not agree, and Bangladesh remained adamant. As a result, the ICC excluded them and gave Scotland a chance.
PCB Chief Naqvi had said that the ICC had not treated Bangladesh fairly and that he too might withdraw from the tournament for this reason. Naqvi had left the final decision in this matter to the government. He met with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif on January 26th regarding this matter, but the decision was postponed until today.
