Pakistan T20 World Cup boycott of India, live updates: ICC criticises decision, asks PCB to 'consider long-term implications'

Pakistan to boycott India game at T20 World Cup

On Sunday (Februrary 1), the Pakistan government announced that while it was granting permission to the national team to appear at the 2026 T20 World Cup, they wouldn't be playing their group-stage match against India. 

"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 statement read.

What's the backdrop?

This comes on the back of the ICC replacing Bangladesh with Scotland at the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, following the former's demand of shifting its scheduled matches out of India to Sri Lanka. 

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chair Mohsin Naqvi had accused the ICC, chaired currently by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, of "double standards" for not allowing Bangladesh a change of venue after a similar request by India during the 2025 Champions Trophy was granted approval.

Having threatened to pull out of the tournament entirely, Pakistan are now set to compete, but boycott their group-stage match against India. 

Pakistan's T20 World Cup boycott and ICC's response, live updates