Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an important meeting today with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, during which consultations were held regarding participation in the T20 World Cup.
After detailed deliberations, a statement issued by the Government of Pakistan said that the Pakistan cricket team will participate in the ICC T20 World Cup; however, the team will not take the field in its scheduled match against India on February 15, 2026.
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.
It is noteworthy that the government has decided not to play against India as a protest, expressing solidarity with Bangladesh.
Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected all reservations raised by Bangladesh and excluded the team from the event, replacing it with Scotland in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s stance reflects its long-standing position of separating sports from bilateral political disputes, particularly in matches involving India.
