ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan has approved its participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 while confirming it will not take the field for its scheduled match against India on 15 February, citing national interest, player safety and a principled state position.
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 1, 2026
Government officials said the national team would compete in all other fixtures of the tournament, but would not play India in the Colombo fixture. The decision, they said, reflects concerns about security and national dignity, adding that while sport should remain separate from politics, the state cannot ignore risks to its players or compromise on core principles.
The announcement comes amid heightened regional sensitivities, following Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from playing its World Cup matches in India over safety concerns. Pakistani officials described Bangladesh’s move as principled and said Islamabad had expressed solidarity with that position.
Cricket and diplomatic sources in Pakistan emphasised that international tournaments require uniform standards of neutrality and credible guarantees of safety. Where those conditions are not met, they argued, participation cannot be assumed simply in the name of sport.
Pakistan maintains that its presence in the tournament underscores a commitment to global cricket, peace and regional stability, while the refusal to play India reflects a clear, security-linked decision that it intends to uphold.
