ICC urges PCB to ‘explore mutually acceptable resolution’ after Pakistan’s decision to boycott India T20 World Cup 2026 match

After Pakistan decided to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India, scheduled for February 15, the International Cricket Council (ICC) urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider the long-term implications of its decision and “explore a mutually acceptable resolution”.

“The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule,” the ICC stated in a media release on Sunday.

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While the Pakistan government granted permission for its men’s cricket team to take part in the upcoming T20 World Cup, beginning on Saturday, it said it would boycott the league stage match against archrival India on February 15 in Colombo without specifying the reason behind the decision.

Pakistan had threatened to boycott the tournament after the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, which didn’t budge from its stance of not wanting to play in India due to security concerns, was replaced by Scotland in the 20-team tournament.

“ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions. While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.

“The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country, as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of. The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which should also be the responsibility of all its members, including the PCB. It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders,” the statement added.

Published on Feb 01, 2026

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