Pakistan says cricket team will boycott T20 World Cup match against India

By Canadian Press on February 1, 2026.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s cricket team will be allowed to take part in the upcoming T20 World Cup but must boycott its group game against India, the Pakistan government said Sunday.

There was no immediate reaction from the ICC, cricket’s governing body. The tournament starts Saturday.

“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026,” the government posted on its official X account. “However, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”

Pakistan will play all its games in Sri Lanka because of political tensions with India, which is co-hosting the tournament with Sri Lanka.

No reason was given for Pakistan boycotting the Group A game against India, but Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi had criticized the ICC for “double standards” by refusing to shift Bangladesh’s games to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland for the tournament.

Pakistan’s first match is against the Netherlands on Saturday. It will then take on the U.S. on Feb. 10 and Namibia on Feb. 18.

India would automatically receive two points if Pakistan forfeits the game.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Associated Press

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