ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan to boycott match against India

Pakistan will boycott its marquee clash against arch-rivals India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, though it will participate in the rest of the tournament.

The decision announced by the Pakistan government on Sunday threatens to strip the prime event of its most commercially valuable and highest viewership fixture.

It is also likely to trigger a dispute between the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), particularly over tournament regulations and commercial commitments linked to the India-Pakistan match.


"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 15 February 2026 against India," the Pakistan government posted on X.

India and Pakistan haven't played a full bilateral series since 2007, with their encounters restricted to ICC and Asian Cricket Council tournaments. Matches between the two sides are among the biggest revenue drivers for global cricket, attracting massive audiences and sponsorship interest. A selective boycott of a single fixture, while participating in the rest of the tournament, could test the ICC's competition framework, including provisions related to forfeits, points allocation, and commercial agreements.

Pakistan's move follows a standoff between the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, after the Bangladesh government refused to allow its team to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns.- Our Bureau