Pakistan To Take Part In ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Will Boycott India Game On February 15

T20 World Cup 2026: With just days remaining before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan announced its decision to boycott the highly anticipated clash against India.

ALSO READ: Pakistan's Ramiz Raja Shamelessly Defends Chucking on Live TV; Blasts Cameron Green's Gesture After Dismissal

Pakistan To Snub India Match In T20 World Cup 2026

The Government of Pakistan, through its official X handle, confirmed that players have been granted permission to travel to Sri Lanka. However, the Men in Green will not take the field on February 15 against Suryakumar Yadav’s India.

"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 Government of Pakistan wrote on X.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru FC Footballers Aim Hilarious Jibe At Pakistan Cricketers, Roast Babar Azam And Co During Practice Session

Decision Comes After PCB Chief Meets Pakistan PM In Lahore

According to Cricbuzz, the announcement from Pakistan came just hours after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi met their Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday, February 1, in Lahore.

This is set to be the first ICC tournament since 2010 without an India–Pakistan encounter. Since 2012, the ICC has consistently placed the two teams in the same group, as their clash is regarded as the most lucrative fixture of the competition. Yet, despite its commercial appeal, relations between the two countries have deteriorated to their lowest point.

After ICC swapped Bangladesh with Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan was the only country to oppose the cricket governing body's decision. Previously, Bangladesh asked ICC to shift their matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security reasons. However, ICC rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) decision.

Pakistan have been placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026, alongside the Netherlands, the United States of America (USA), India, and Namibia. Pakistan will start their voyage in the ICC event on February 7, against the Netherlands, at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.