The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a strong warning to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the government’s decision to boycott the high-profile group match against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, urging Pakistan to consider the “long-term implications” for cricket in the country.
The ICC statement came just hours after the Government of Pakistan announced that the national team would participate in the tournament but would not take the field against India in their February 15 clash in Colombo.
ICC seeks “mutually acceptable resolution”
In an official response, the ICC said it expects the PCB to engage constructively and explore solutions that protect the interests of all stakeholders, including fans, broadcasters and member boards.
“The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country, as this decision is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, of which it is itself a member and beneficiary,” the statement said.
The ICC added that it had not yet received formal communication from the PCB regarding the government’s directive.
‘Selective participation’ criticised
The governing body made it clear that Pakistan’s stance was difficult to reconcile with the core principles of ICC events.
“Selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event, where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms as per the event schedule,” the ICC noted.
It further stressed that ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, warning that boycotts undermine the spirit and sanctity of international competitions.
Commercial and sporting fallout
The Pakistan-India fixture, scheduled for February 15, was expected to be the most commercially lucrative group match of the tournament, drawing massive global viewership.
According to ICC playing conditions, Pakistan will forfeit two points if they refuse to play India. The boycott will also have a negative impact on Pakistan’s net run rate (NRR), while India’s NRR will remain unaffected.
Clause 16.10.7 of the ICC Playing Conditions states that in the event of a forfeit, the defaulting team’s full quota of overs is counted against them when calculating net run rate.
Background: Bangladesh controversy
Pakistan’s position hardened after the ICC removed Bangladesh from the tournament last month following Dhaka’s refusal to tour India due to security concerns. Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland after the ICC rejected requests to move their matches to neutral venues.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had publicly criticised the ICC’s handling of the situation, accusing it of double standards and favouring India. He later said that Pakistan’s participation would ultimately be decided by the government.
Pakistan was the only country to openly support Bangladesh’s request for an alternative venue.
Pakistan’s group and schedule
Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside India, Netherlands, USA and Namibia. Under an existing arrangement, Pakistan will play all their World Cup matches at neutral venues in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament with India.
The Men in Green are scheduled to:
- Play Netherlands on February 7
- Face USA on February 10
- Take on Namibia on February 18
The fate of the India fixture now rests on whether the PCB and ICC can reach a resolution in the coming days.
ICC prioritises tournament delivery
The ICC reiterated that the successful delivery of the T20 World Cup is a shared responsibility of all member boards.
“The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which should also be the responsibility of all its members, including the PCB,” the statement concluded.
With less than a week to go before the tournament begins, the standoff has added fresh uncertainty to an already controversial build-up, keeping Pakistan’s World Cup campaign firmly under the global spotlight.
