The International Cricket Council (ICC) is worried about the Pakistan government's announcement on February 1, 2026, that the national team will not play India in the group stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The ICC told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to look for a solution that works for everyone so that the tournament can stay fair and protect the interests of all parties involved.
The India-Pakistan game, which will take place on February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, is expected to be the most profitable match of the group stage. The ICC said in its statement that it hopes the PCB will think about the big and long-term effects on cricket in Pakistan. It also warned that selective participation hurts the fairness and spirit of global sporting events.
The ICC said that while it respects the roles of governments in making national policy, Pakistan's decision is not in the best interests of the global game or fans around the world, including millions in Pakistan. The council also said that,
according to ICC rules, Pakistan's net run rate will be affected by the forfeiture, but India's will not.
After Bangladesh pulled out of the tournament on January 24, 2026, because they were worried about safety while playing in India, people started to question Pakistan's participation. Pakistan openly backed Bangladesh's request for different arrangements and criticized the ICC for what they saw as double standards that favored India.
Pakistan is in Group A with India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. All of the games will be played in Sri Lanka at neutral sites. The team will start its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, then play the USA on February 10, and finally Namibia on February 18. The ICC is keeping a close eye on the situation in India, where the outcome of the fight is still up in the air.