Pakistan to play T20 World Cup 2026, skip clash against India
LAHORE ( WEB News )
The Pakistani government has approved the national cricket team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. However, the Pakistan cricket team will not take the field for its scheduled match against India on February 15, 2026.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an important meeting today with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, during which consultations were held regarding participation in the T20 World Cup.
After detailed deliberations, a statement issued by the Government of Pakistan said that the Pakistan cricket team will participate in the ICC T20 World Cup; however, the team will not take the field in its scheduled match against India on February 15, 2026.
It is noteworthy that the government has decided not to play against India as a protest, expressing solidarity with Bangladesh.
Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected all reservations raised by Bangladesh and excluded the team from the event, replacing it with Scotland in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s stance reflects its long-standing position of separating sports from bilateral political disputes, particularly in matches involving India.
In recent years, encounters between the two sides have largely been limited to ICC and multinational tournaments, with bilateral series remaining suspended.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to feature top international teams, with Pakistan entering the tournament as one of the former champions and strong contenders.