Pakistan will boycott their high-profile conflict towards India on the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February 15, after the choice was cleared by the Authorities of Pakistan.
In a press release issued from the federal government’s official X account, Islamabad confirmed that the Pakistan cricket group has been granted permission to journey to Sri Lanka for the match. Nonetheless, it clarified that the group “shall not take the sphere” towards India, with out specifying the explanations behind the transfer.
The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi repeatedly threatening a boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh after the latter’s withdrawal from the match. Naqvi had earlier indicated {that a} closing name can be taken by January 30 or February 2.
The controversy escalated after the ICC formally changed Bangladesh with Scotland within the 20-team match. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had refused to journey to India, citing safety considerations, and requested that their matches be moved to Sri Lanka. Following an impartial safety evaluation, the ICC discovered “no credible or verifiable menace” and declined to change the schedule.
With Bangladesh pulling out, Scotland have been drafted into Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy. The Scottish facet certified because the next-highest ranked T20I group and presently sits at world No. 14, forward of a number of groups already within the match.
Bangladesh have been initially scheduled to play group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. Their withdrawal marks the primary time the Males’s T20 World Cup will likely be held with out Bangladesh, who had featured in each version because the match started in 2007.
The ICC reiterated that adjustments to venues or fixtures weren’t possible, noting that the schedule had been launched in November 2025 and the occasion was too near graduation for main alterations.
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