Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated that the country’s senior men’s national cricket team will not play against India in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, according to a report by a Pakistani newspaper.
Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a major dispute has emerged over the India–Pakistan fixture. Sharif has confirmed that Pakistan’s senior men’s national team will not play any match against India in the tournament. The decision relates to the proposed India–Pakistan group-stage match scheduled for February 15, 2026.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be held from February 7, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India and Pakistan were slated to meet in the group stage at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Following the Pakistani government’s decision, the match is now under uncertainty.
Addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had taken the decision after careful consideration and would maintain its position. He said, “We have adopted a clear policy regarding the T20 World Cup that Pakistan will not play against India. This decision has been fully considered and we believe it is the right step.”
The statement indicates that the Pakistan Cricket Board and the government are aligned on the issue.
Pakistan has cited what it described as double standards by the International Cricket Council as a reason for its stance. Pakistan objected bly to Bangladesh’s exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, stating that when the Bangladesh government refused to send its team to India citing security reasons, the ICC rejected requests to move their matches to Sri Lanka, after which Bangladesh was excluded from the tournament. Pakistan has said the ICC’s policy in this matter was not impartial.
Following Pakistan’s refusal to play against India, the ICC has issued a warning, stating that refusing to play selected matches in a global tournament goes against the principles of fairness, integrity, and competitive balance, and that Pakistan could face serious consequences in the future.
Despite the warning, Pakistan has not indicated any change in its position. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, has previously expressed public displeasure over ICC decisions. It has also been noted that if both teams progress, India and Pakistan could meet in the final, although it remains unclear what position Pakistan would take in that situation.
