India and Pakistan are scheduled to play the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday (February 4) confirmed that the Pakistan men’s cricket team will not play their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. Archrivals India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other in a Group A match of the upcoming T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo. But according to Sharif, Pakistan will not play against the Indian team because they (Pakistan) stand with Bangladesh, and there should be no politics on the sports field.
“We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won’t play the match against India because Pakistan said this a field of sports, not politics. There should be no politics on the sports field. We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision,” Shehbaz said while addressing the cabinet in Pakistan on Wednesday.
Shehbaz’s statement comes a couple of days after it was reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to formally inform the International Cricket Council (ICC) about their decision to boycott the Group A match against India.
“Pakistan will not send any formal email to the ICC regarding boycotting the T20 World Cup match against India,” sources told NDTV.
If PCB does not formally inform the global cricket body about their government’s decision, then the India-Pakistan match will remain active, and the drama over the boycott will go on for the coming days as well.
It was reported that the ICC is waiting for an official communication from the PCB, and the absence of any official communication will mean that the ICC may also have to wait before deciding its next course of action.
