Pakistan stands firm on India match boycott, fate of knockout matches to be decided by…

Pakistan is expected to maintain its position after creating end moment chaos ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. The government announced that they will not be taking the field on February 15 and will be boycotting match against India which is scheduled to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board also appears ready to follow the directives issued by the government after it the authority publicly stated that the national team will boycott match against India. The decision is reportedly linked to showing solidarity for Bangladesh after they were replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup. Although the government has instructed Pakistan to boycott the group-stage encounter, it has not clarified its stance on a potential meeting between the two sides in the semi-finals or the final.

According to a report by PTI, any such knockout game will require government approval and Pakistan will only play if permission is granted. Even though the Pakistan government has announced about its decision, the PCB still needs to send an official letter to ICC.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also released an official statement and mentioned that “selective participation” won’t be entertained and it will have broader consequences.

If Pakistan fail to take the field, India would be awarded two points via forfeiture, while Pakistan’s net run rate would suffer significantly, calculated in accordance with clause 16.10.9 of the tournament’s playing conditions.