Pakistan has decided to boycott their match against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Government of Pakistan approved the team’s participation in the tournament in Sri Lanka but confirmed that they will not take the field against India on 15 February 2026. The uncertainty around Pakistan’s involvement arose after Bangladesh was removed from the tournament for refusing to play in India due to security concerns. Pakistan openly supported Bangladesh’s request for an alternate venue and criticized the ICC for perceived favoritism towards India. The final decision on Pakistan’s participation was confirmed to rest with the government, highlighting the political and security sensitivities influencing the tournament. This announcement has sparked debate and raised questions about the impact on the World Cup schedule. Also Read | Watch: Matt Renshaw Takes an Unreal Catch to Get Rid of Saim Ayub in 3rd T20I vs PAK Claiming the ICC is showing favoritism PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds the position of Pakistan’s Minister of Interior and Narcotics Control, recently called out the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what he sees as double standards. He pointed out that while India was set to play in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai where Pakistan was the host, but Bangladesh wasn’t given the same treatment for the T20 World Cup. After making these remarks, he engaged in talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. This led to reports about a potential boycott. Despite concerns about significant financial repercussions from the ICC, Pakistan has decided to take a stand. Team Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in Colombo on February 2, and just two days later, they’ll kick off their campaign with a warm-up match against Ireland. Pakistan's choice to boycott the match against India highlights the ongoing political and security issues tied to the T20 World Cup 2026. Although the team will still compete in the tournament, this decision has ignited discussions about fairness and ICC policies, leaving fans and organizers wondering how it will affect the World Cup schedule.