The Pakistan cricket team will be boycotting its T20 World Cup international match against India, according to a statement issued by the country’s government on Sunday.
The match was scheduled to take place on Feb. 15 in Sri Lanka.
In a statement posted on its verified social media handle, the government of Pakistan said it has granted approval to the Pakistan cricket team to take part in the tournament but said the team “shall not take the field” for the fixture against India in Colombo.
The decision brings an end to days of speculation over Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and comes amid heightened political tensions in the region.
“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.
PCB had said that the government will decide on the team’s participation in the tournament in the wake of Bangladesh’s ouster from the tournament. Bangladesh decided not to participate in the world cup after its request to shift all its matches from India to Sri Lanka was rejected by the International Cricket Council.
Meanwhile, all matches of Pakistan will be held in Sri Lanka, despite India being the official host, in accordance with an understanding reached with the ICC last year. Due to political tensions, it was decided neither India nor Pakistan will play in the other country during multilateral tournaments.
Notably, the Indian and Pakistani sides last squared off in September, during the Asia Cup matches played in the United Arab Emirates.
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With PTI inputs
