Pakistan will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but will not take the field in its scheduled match against India on February 15, the government said on Sunday, confirming a politically sensitive decision ahead of the global tournament.

In a post on the government’s X account, it said: “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 decision was taken following a meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the statement.

The development comes amid a broader Bangladesh controversy, which has already cast a shadow over the tournament. Bangladesh were removed from the T20 World Cup 2026 and replaced by Scotland in the tournament, a decision that triggered criticism from several quarters, including Pakistan, over what was described as inconsistent treatment by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

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.

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 1, 2026

Bangladesh’s replacement — following disputes related to hosting arrangements, security concerns and scheduling under the hybrid model involving India and Sri Lanka — intensified debate over governance and fairness in international cricket, with Pakistan openly expressing solidarity with Bangladesh earlier in the row.

The T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, is now facing renewed uncertainty as political considerations intersect with cricketing commitments. A Pakistan–India clash is traditionally the tournament’s biggest commercial draw, and Pakistan’s refusal could force the ICC to revisit scheduling or points-allocation scenarios.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign begins against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo, followed by matches against the United States on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.

Despite opting out of the India match, Pakistan’s participation in the rest of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 signals a calibrated approach rather than a full boycott, following days of speculation linked to the Bangladesh issue and regional tensions.

The ICC has yet to issue an official response on how Pakistan’s decision will impact the tournament structure, while cricket administrators continue to monitor the fallout from both the Pakistan–India match refusal and the Bangladesh replacement controversy, which together have made the build-up to the World T20 unusually fraught.

ICC calls for ‘mutually acceptable solution’

The International Cricket Council has called on the PCB to find a mutually acceptable solution after Pakistan announced it would boycott its match against India in the main event.

In a statement, the ICC said that selective participation “is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event,” where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms according to the tournament schedule. The council also noted that it is still awaiting official communication from the PCB.

“ICC tournaments are built on the principles of sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness,” the statement said, adding that selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of international competitions.

While respecting the role of governments in matters of national policy, the ICC said the decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.

The council emphasised that the PCB should consider the long-term impact of its stance on cricket in the country, noting that such a move could affect the global cricket ecosystem, of which the PCB is both a member and a beneficiary.

The ICC reiterated that its priority remains the successful delivery of the Men’s T20 World Cup and said all members, including Pakistan, share responsibility for ensuring a fair and competitive tournament.

The council urged the PCB to explore a solution that protects the interests of all stakeholders.

India-Pakistan rivalry

In the cricketing world, an India–Pakistan contest is the most anticipated fixture at any ICC tournament, particularly since the suspension of bilateral tours between the two cricket-mad neighbours.

Owing to strained relations, India have not toured Pakistan since 2008, and the rivals now face each other only at multi-team events. Pakistan, however, visited India for the 50-overs World Cup last year, the 2016 T20 World Cup, and a three-match ODI series in 2012.

Pakistan also hosted the Asia Cup in 2023, but eventual winners India played all their matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model.

Controversy erupted after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, despite Pakistan having toured India for the ODI World Cup. India maintained that its government did not grant permission for the tour — a stance accepted by the ICC at the time, though a similar justification was later rejected when put forward by Bangladesh.

After weeks of deliberations, the International Cricket Council (ICC), the global governing body of the sport, approved the hybrid model proposed by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as well as other ICC events scheduled between 2025 and 2027.

In a formal statement, the ICC said: “India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country at ICC events during the 2024–2027 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue, the ICC Board confirmed.”

The ICC added that the hybrid arrangement would apply to two major events next year — the men’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the women’s ODI World Cup in India. It will also be in place for the men’s T20 World Cup in 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and the women’s T20 World Cup in Pakistan in 2028.

Under this arrangement, all of Pakistan’s matches were shifted to Sri Lanka, as they were to be played at a neutral venue.

The issue appeared to have been resolved but resurfaced when India dropped Bangladesh’s pacer from the Indian Premier League amid rising tensions with Bangladesh, further worsening the already strained relations between the two cricketing nations.

Bangladesh demanded that the ICC shift its matches to Sri Lanka, but the international cricket body refused to comply, forcing Bangladesh to withdraw from the World Cup, with Scotland added as a replacement.

The dispute, centred on hosting arrangements, security concerns and scheduling under the hybrid model involving India and Sri Lanka, intensified debate over governance and fairness in international cricket. Pakistan openly expressed solidarity with Bangladesh earlier during the row.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the government held extensive deliberations over the decision to participate in the World Cup, including the option of a complete boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh and in protest against what they described as the ICC’s unfair treatment. However, it was eventually decided that Pakistan would boycott only the match against their arch-rivals.

India and Sri Lanka are hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the second time. Sri Lanka were the hosts of the 2012 edition while India hosted it in 2016, with West Indies winning both the editions.

India (2007 and 2024) and England (2010 and 2022) are the other teams to win the championship more than once while Pakistan (2009), Sri Lanka (2014) and Australia (2021) are the other past winners.