Pakistan will boycott their game against India at the 2026 T20 World Cup. A post issued by the Government of Pakistan's official X account said the government had granted permission to the Pakistan team to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament. However, it said that "the Pakistan cricket team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15 February 2026 against India".
The statement did not specify a reason for that decision. The India-Pakistan fixture is by far the most lucrative - and usually most-watched - game of any ICC tournament. To capitalise on that, the ICC have ensured the two teams are always in the same group of any ICC event since 2012, even as worsening diplomatic relations between the two nations means they have not played a bilateral fixture in 14 years.
Pakistan's participation, or the extent of it, at the 2026 T20 World Cup had been thrown into doubt by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi after Bangladesh were removed from the tournament on January 24 following their refusal to play in India due to security concerns. Pakistan was the only country vocally supportive of Bangladesh's request for alternate venue, and reacted to their removal by accusing the ICC of double standards favouring India. He said the government would ultimately decide whether Pakistan were to take part in the tournament. Two days later, Naqvi, who met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said he had been advised to keep all options open to resolve the issue.
Speculation had been mounting that Pakistan would stop short of a total boycott of the tournament, and hone in specifically on the game against India.
It appears an ill-calculated, short-sighted move. Pakistan are in Group A along with India, Namibia, Netherlands and USA, and are playing all their matches in Sri Lanka, which is a co-host of the tournament. They think that anyway they may lose to India and could still quality beating the minions – Namibia, Netherlands and USA.
Pakistan will forfeit the two points from their game against India if they boycott the fixture .. .. and will they continue their foolish stand, if they qualify for the next level when the matches would have to be played in India, respective of the opponent.
Besides the points
lost, ICC's Playing Conditions dictate that Pakistan's net run rate will be hit
by the forfeiture, but India's will remain unaffected. Clause 16.10.7 states
that in the event of a forfeit, "the net run rate of the defaulting team
shall be affected in that the full 20 overs of the defaulting team's innings in
such forfeited match shall be taken into account in calculating the average
runs per over of the defaulting team over the course of the relevant portion of
the competition."
For a Country that remains in financials ruins – the decision is bound to affect very badly economically too. Financial fines are likely on the PCB, plus possible reductions in ICC revenue share. Further sanctions could include PSL commercial restrictions, foreign player limits in the league, Asia Cup exclusion, or bilateral series suspensions. Broadcasters may sue PCB for up to $38 million in losses from the high-profile clash. Broader economic fallout for Pakistan cricket includes diminished global revenue and sponsorship risks. The ICC may withhold Pakistan's share of annual revenue, estimated at approximately $34.5 million, as a direct penalty for breaching the Member Participation Agreement. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) risks losing performance-linked incentives and participation fees ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.
Things
do look bleak for the Nation in financial ruins. Pakistan's
political stability index worsened to -2.06 in 2024 (on a -2.5 to 2.5 scale),
reflecting broad instability. While PM Shehbaz Sharif claimed economic
stability in late January 2026, analysts describe the nation as on the brink
amid intertwined crises.
Meantime, Bulawayo, Pakistan won a crucial toss as they looked to beat India by a significant margin in order to make the semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup. Pakistan, with four points in their bag, were two behind the undefeated India. India set a target of 251 and Pakistan had to chase a target of 251 in about 33.2 overs to make the semi-final.
The match ended India’way as Ind U19 beat Pakis by 58 runs, a handsome margin. Earlier Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 30, Ayush Mhatre was dismissed for a duck, Vedant Trivedi made 68 while Kanish Chouhan boosted the final target making 35. At a time when Pak were in some control, Ayush Mhatre came about and took apart the middle order. Spin took over and India never looked back
Reminiscing
some history - in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, a loss to England
in their group stage match would have almost certainly eliminated Pakistan, as
it would have left them with only 5 points from 7 matches, placing them behind
Australia and making a top-four finish impossible. Pakistan was extremely
fortunate, as they were bowled out for only 74 runs (their lowest-ever World
Cup total at that time) and England was 24/1 after 8 overs before heavy rain
intervened, abandoning the match and allowing Pakistan to share the points.
Pakistan
needs to realize that the gimmick of boycott only hurts them not only on the
field but could further bomb them financially too. No regrets from India – we are happy
conducting the tournament without you too.
1.2.2026
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