ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s Cricket team will participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup but will not play against India, according to a statement from the Pakistan government on Sunday.
The ICC, cricket’s governing body, has not released any comments regarding this decision. The tournament is set to begin on Saturday.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026,” the government announced on its official X account. “However, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”
Due to political tensions with India, co-hosting the tournament with Sri Lanka, all of Pakistan’s matches will be held in Sri Lanka.
No specific reason was given for the boycott against India, but Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, criticized the ICC for what he described as “double standards” regarding the scheduling of Bangladesh’s games. Bangladesh has since been replaced by Scotland in the tournament.
Pakistan’s first match is against the Netherlands on Saturday. They will also face the U.S. on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.
If Pakistan does not play the match against India, India will automatically earn two points.
