Pakistan will take part in this month’s men’s T20 World Cup but will not play their scheduled match against tournament co-hosts India.
The country had been considering boycotting the competition after Bangladesh withdrew citing safety fears over travelling to India.
Political tensions also mean Pakistan and India have not faced each other outside men’s major tournaments since 2013, while India have not played in Pakistan since 2008.
The sides are scheduled to play in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in accordance with an agreement signed last year stating that the two countries will play at neutral venues whenever one of them hosts an ICC event.
In a statement, the Pakistan government said it “grants approval” to their team’s participation, but added “[the] Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on February 15, 2026 against India”.
The ICC has won Pakistan against boycotting the match.
“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,” ICC said in a statement obtained by PUNCH Sports Extra.
“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.”However, the rules for the previous tournament stated, “If the match is decided by one side conceding defeat or refusing to play, the result shall be stated as Match Conceded or Match Awarded, as the case may be.”
Pakistan had previously announced their squad for the 20-team tournament, which begins on February 7, but maintained participation was subject to government approval.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board, meanwhile, had asked for their fixtures to be switched from India to the other host nation, Sri Lanka.
But that call was rejected by the ICC last month with the organisation saying there was an “absence of any credible security threat”.
The BCB then withdrew with Scotland replacing them in the tournament.
Alongside India, Pakistan have been placed with Namibia, Netherlands and the USA in Group A.
They will go into the tournament having defeated Australia by 111 runs on Sunday to complete a 3-0 T20 series sweep.
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