Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the national Cricket team will not play against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
He confirmed that Pakistan will not participate in the match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. “Our position is clear regarding the upcoming T20 World Cup, and we will not play the match against India,” he stated.
“Politics should not interfere with sports. We have made this decision after considering all aspects. It is the right choice,” he added.
India is set to face Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned Pakistan that selective participation in the World Cup could have serious repercussions.
Pakistan decided to boycott the match against India after Bangladesh was dropped from the World Cup and replaced by Scotland.
The issue began when the BCCI asked the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman. This upset Bangladesh, who then refused to play their World Cup matches in India and requested that their games be moved to Sri Lanka, which was denied.
Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the PCB, criticized the ICC for its inconsistent policies. The ICC may impose sanctions on Pakistan. Broadcasters could potentially sue the PCB for significant financial losses if the India vs Pakistan match is canceled.
The ICC might suspend Pakistan’s annual funding and limit the availability of foreign players in the Pakistan Super League. Officials are in discussions with the PCB to resolve this issue and persuade the board to allow players to compete against India, depending ultimately on the decision of the Pakistani government.
