Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has spoken publicly about the decision to boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match against India. He said the government stands firmly with Bangladesh on the issue.

On February 1, the Pakistan government confirmed that the national men’s team would take part in the 20-team tournament. However, it also announced that the team would not play its scheduled match against India on February 15 in Colombo. Pakistan took this step after Bangladesh was removed from the competition for refusing to travel to India.

Bangladesh Exit Sparks Controversy

The situation began when Bangladesh asked the ICC to shift its matches to Sri Lanka. This request came after Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur Rahman due to “recent developments”. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) repeatedly raised concerns about security threats.

However, the ICC carried out an independent review and found no credible threat. It asked Bangladesh to rethink its decision. When Bangladesh still refused to travel to India, the ICC replaced them with Scotland in Group C.

PCB Reaction and Government Talks

After Bangladesh was removed from the tournament, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi warned that Pakistan might pull out of the event. He said Bangladesh had not been treated fairly.

Later, after several meetings between Naqvi and Prime Minister Sharif, a final decision was made. Pakistan agreed to stay in the tournament but decided not to play the match against India.

Sharif Says Politics Should Stay Out of Sports

While addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad, Prime Minister Sharif explained the reasoning behind the decision. He said the government had taken a clear position and supported Bangladesh.

“We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India,” said Sharif while addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad.

He further added, "There should be no politics in sports; it is our clear stand. We have taken this stand after careful deliberation. We are with Bangladesh, and I think this is the right and proper decision,"

ICC Urges Pakistan to Reconsider

After the Pakistani government announced its stance on social media on February 1, the ICC responded with a statement. The global cricket body asked Pakistan to rethink the move, warning that it could have “long-term” implications for cricket in the country.

Despite the public statement, the PCB has not yet officially written to the ICC about the boycott. At the same time, informal discussions have started between the concerned parties, and the issue remains unresolved.

Tournament Details and Warm-Up Matches

India and Pakistan are placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup along with Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. Both teams are set to begin their campaigns on Saturday, February 7.

In recent warm-up matches, India defeated South Africa at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s warm-up match against Ireland in Colombo had to be called off due to rain.