Pakistan to boycott T20WC game against India, ICC warns of serious implications

KARACHI: (Feb 1) Pakistan on Sunday announced a boycott of its high-profile men’s T20 World Cup group league match against India, a move that is likely to have serious repercussions even as the government cleared the national team’s participation in the rest of the global event starting February 7.

“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 government posted on social media.

The decision, conveyed through an official government statement, is being seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security