Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the country’s decision to boycott its men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group match against India was taken as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh, following their removal from the tournament. It is the first time a senior Pakistani official has publicly addressed the reasons behind the boycott.
Speaking to his cabinet on Wednesday, Sharif said Pakistan would not play the February 15 fixture against India, stressing that politics should not enter the sporting arena. He added that Pakistan had taken a “considered stance” and believed standing by Bangladesh was the appropriate decision.
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Earlier, Pakistan’s government had confirmed that the team would participate in the World Cup but would not take the field against India, without providing an explanation. The ICC later issued a warning, urging the PCB to consider the long-term implications of such a move on Pakistan cricket and the global ecosystem.
The boycott appears linked to PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi’s criticism of the ICC’s “double standards” after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland. Bangladesh were removed after their government refused to allow the team to travel to India, citing security concerns, and requested their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka instead.
Pakistan has argued that Bangladesh were treated unfairly, especially given India’s earlier refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
