Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has finally explained why Pakistan decided to boycott its group-stage match against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The statement ends weeks of official silence on the issue.
Sharif confirmed that the decision was taken in support of Bangladesh. This is the first time the Pakistan government or the Pakistan Cricket Board has openly linked the boycott to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament. Pakistan are scheduled to play India on February 15.
That match will now be skipped unless the decision changes. Bangladesh were removed from the T20 World Cup after their government refused to send the team to India. Security concerns were cited as the main reason. Since India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the event, Bangladesh asked for all their matches to be shifted to Sri Lanka. The ICC rejected the request after an independent review found no serious threat.
Pakistan says boycott is a stand for Bangladesh
After this, the ICC board voted 14-2 to replace Bangladesh with Scotland. Both the PCB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board opposed the move. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly criticised the ICC.
He accused the governing body of double standards and unfair treatment of Bangladesh. Addressing federal cabinet members in Islamabad, Sharif confirmed Pakistan’s stand. He said the boycott was a planned and thoughtful decision.
“We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won’t play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field. We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision,” the Pakistan Prime Minister said.
Earlier, the Pakistan government had said the team would play the tournament but skip the India match. No reason was given at that time. The ICC later warned Pakistan of serious consequences. The body said such a move could harm global cricket.
India-Pakistan matches bring huge revenue. The ICC could face heavy financial losses if the boycott continues. Despite pressure, the PCB has still not sent a formal explanation to the ICC. Discussions are reportedly ongoing behind the scenes.
