Pakistan Government declares to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India

The Pakistan government eventually took the call on the national men's team's participation in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, giving the go-ahead for Salman Agha and his side to fly to Sri Lanka. On February 15 in Colombo, a startling decision was made when it was revealed that Pakistan will not play India in the Group A match.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been threatening to withdraw from the competition ever since Bangladesh was eliminated from the 20-team competition, citing unfair treatment. 

The call to boycott the entire tournament wasn't adopted, but it was certainly determined that the team wouldn't play the match against the arch-rival. As a protest against the ICC's governance, the Pakistani government has now reportedly chosen not to give the national team permission to play India, according to a Geo News report.

“The government … grants approval to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the World T20, however, the Pakistan cricket team shall not take the field in the match against India,” the post on the government’s X account said.

The ICC already booked all their Group A matches of Pakistan in Sri Lanka in keeping with their policy ‍of not touring India due to geopolitical sensitivities. However, immediately before the competition starts, they have suddenly dropped a last-minute bomb. Due to the decision's needless justifications and timing, it was inevitable that it would be criticised globally.

The team had earlier confirmed their squad for the 20-team event commencing on February 7, stressing that participation was subject to government confirmation. Scotland has already taken Bangladesh's position in the global spectacle after it declined to visit India due to safety concerns.

The T20 World Cup 2026 league stage match between India and Pakistan was set for February 15 in Colombo, which is the flashpoint. While the Pakistan government’s announcement caught supporters off guard, it has been former cricketers who have voiced the harshest questions, wondering whether selective participation in a global competition is even feasible.

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