Pakistan stands with Bangladesh, to boycott India T20 match: PM Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan will not play against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, saying the decision was taken after “careful deliberation and in solidarity” with Bangladesh.

Addressing a federal cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said, “Sports should remain free from political influence, while explaining Pakistan’s position on the 20-team tournament.”

“Politics should have no place in the field of sports,” Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that “Pakistan should stand with Bangladesh in the matter of boycotting the T20 match against India,” Geo News reported.

Pakistan has decided to boycott its scheduled February 15 clash against arch-rivals India as a mark of protest after the International Cricket Council (ICC) removed Bangladesh from the tournament.

The ICC decided after rejecting the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to shift their matches to a venue outside India, citing logistical constraints so close to the tournament’s February 7 start.

Bangladesh were subsequently replaced by Scotland, with the ICC stating that revising the schedule at such a late stage was not feasible.

Government sources said Pakistan’s decision was influenced by multiple factors, including what they described as a biased approach by the ICC towards Bangladesh. The sources added that the Pakistan team had been instructed not to take the field against India as a form of protest, as per Geo News.

In response, the ICC said it hoped the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would work towards a “mutually acceptable resolution”. While acknowledging the prerogative of national governments, the ICC urged the PCB to reconsider its stance, warning that the boycott would harm the sport and its global fanbase.

The council said the decision was not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan, and encouraged continued dialogue to protect the interests of all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s national team is currently in Colombo, Sri Lanka, ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8.