The government has approved Pakistan’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 but announced that the national team will skip its scheduled match against arch-rivals India on February 15 in Colombo.
The decision comes amid uncertainty over Pakistan’s involvement following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament, citing rising tensions with India, one of the event’s co-hosts.
A government source said Pakistan’s refusal to face India is intended to show solidarity with Bangladesh and protest what it described as the ICC’s “biased approach” to addressing Bangladesh’s concerns.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) responded swiftly, noting that selective participation undermines the principle of global tournaments, where all qualified teams are expected to compete on an equal footing and follow the scheduled fixtures.
The move has triggered widespread reaction across both the cricketing and political spheres.
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Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi termed the situation “regrettable” but backed the government’s stance, saying cricket often bridges divides but principles sometimes demand tough decisions.
He also urged the ICC to demonstrate impartiality through its actions rather than statements.
Former batsman Mohammad Hafeez expressed concern for fans, calling the situation far from ideal and linking current tensions to earlier incidents, including India’s refusal to shake hands during a previous Asia Cup encounter.
Former star batsman Mohammad Yousuf described the government’s move as a “tough but necessary” stand, arguing that principles should take precedence over commercial interests.
He later added that Pakistan–India matches, among the biggest spectacles in world sport, continue to suffer due to political interference, undermining the spirit of the game.
Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen questioned whether Pakistan would also refuse to play India should the two teams meet in the final, highlighting the uncertainty the decision has introduced into the tournament.
Sports journalist Yahya Hussaini noted that with the government’s backing, there was little legal ground for action against the PCB, though he said efforts could still be made over the next two weeks to persuade the board to reconsider.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed welcomed the move, praising the PCB for standing with Bangladesh and criticising what he called double standards by the ICC in past venue-related decisions involving India.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif questioned the ICC’s swift reaction, calling it panic-driven, and pointed to past instances where teams forfeited matches without similar scrutiny. He argued that the governing body now faced a challenging situation.
Reacting sharply, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari accused the ICC of promoting Indian dominance.
Source: Dunya News
