Pakistan government allows World Cup travel but bans India match
Cricket fans across the globe are in shock as the Pakistan government has officially barred its national team from playing against India in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. While the squad received the green light to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament, they will not take the field for the highly anticipated February 15 clash in Colombo.
The official decision was shared via a social media post on Sunday, following a high-level meeting between PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The statement clarified that while the team can participate in the global event, the specific fixture against India is off-limits. This unprecedented move has left the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a difficult position, as the India-Pakistan rivalry is the biggest commercial draw of any tournament.
The roots of this protest lie in the recent removal of Bangladesh from the World Cup lineup. Bangladesh had requested to move their matches out of India due to security concerns. When the ICC rejected this and replaced them with Scotland, Pakistan stood in solidarity with the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Naqvi had previously hinted at a boycott, and today’s announcement confirms that the Pakistan Cricket Board is following through on that threat.
If the Pakistan boycott India T20 World Cup match proceeds as planned, India will likely be awarded two points via a walkover. For Pakistan, this creates a massive hurdle in their quest for the trophy, as they would need to win almost all remaining group matches against the USA, Netherlands, and Namibia to qualify for the next round.
History shows that boycotts in ICC events are rare but not new. In the past, teams like Australia, West Indies, and England have refused to play in certain venues due to security or political tensions. However, skipping a marquee India vs Pakistan Colombo match is a decision that could lead to heavy financial sanctions and a significant hit to Pakistan's net run rate.
