ICC Reacts to Pakistan Boycotting India Match in T20 WC 2026

ICC Responds to Pakistan’s Decision to Skip T20 World Cup 2026 Match Against India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued an official response to Pakistan’s announcement that it will boycott its group-stage match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

On Sunday, Pakistan confirmed that while it will participate in the tournament, it will not play the highly anticipated match against India scheduled for February 15, 2026. Reacting to the development, the ICC stated that such selective participation goes against the principles of international cricket and could harm the long-term credibility of the sport.

In its statement, the ICC revealed that it has not yet received formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the decision. However, the governing body emphasized that refusing to play a scheduled fixture undermines fairness, consistency, and sporting integrity.

The ICC acknowledged the role of national governments in policy decisions but stressed that withdrawing from a major match is not in the best interest of cricket fans or the global cricket community, including supporters in Pakistan. It urged the PCB to reconsider its stance and seek a mutually acceptable solution that protects the interests of all stakeholders.

According to the ICC, global tournaments are designed to ensure equal competition among all qualified teams. Any form of selective participation weakens the spirit and structure of international events and affects the overall success of the competition.

Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States. All of their matches are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament with India. The team will begin its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.

If Pakistan proceeds with the boycott, it is expected to forfeit two points for the match against India. In addition, its net run rate could be negatively impacted. As per ICC regulations, a forfeited match is treated as a full 20-over innings for the defaulting team, which can significantly affect tournament standings.

The ICC reiterated that its main focus remains the smooth conduct of the T20 World Cup 2026 and called on all member boards, including the PCB, to cooperate in ensuring the tournament’s success.