Pakistan will feature in the ICC T20 World Cup, just without taking the field for the IND vs PAK clash following instructions from their government.
This comes at the last minute, since the tournament is scheduled to kick off from February 7, 2026, and the India vs Pakistan match is to be played on February 15.
Naturally, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has stepped in, asking the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider, warning them of the "significant and long-term implications" of the boycott.
The ICC released a statement following Pakistan government's announcement of boycotting the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match.
"The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026."
"While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of 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 per the event schedule."
The statement continued by stating that sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness are what ICC tournaments are built on, and such selective participation undermines those values.
It was then asked of PCB to consider the implications of such a move:
"While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan."
"The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of."
It will be interesting to see how this predicament develops over the coming weeks, whether Pakistan stands firm on their boycott decision, or if ICC takes any strict actions.
