Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country will stand fully behind Bangladesh amid India’s boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026. Sharif spoke to his federal cabinet in Islamabad on Tuesday. Pakistan confirmed it will not play the February 15 match against India in Colombo. The government said politics should not mix with sports.
Sharif made the statement while explaining why Pakistan decided to support Bangladesh. Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the World Cup. They asked the ICC to move their matches to Sri Lanka instead. ICC said no. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.
Why Pakistan Backs Bangladesh’s Position?
Bangladesh cited security concerns for not wanting to play in India. They sent a formal request to the ICC asking to shift all their matches to Sri Lanka. ICC reviewed the request and found no credible security threat. The governing body rejected Bangladesh’s demand. That led to Bangladesh getting removed from the tournament.
Pakistan publicly supported Bangladesh during this dispute. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi called the venue shift decision unfair treatment. Now, Prime Minister Sharif has backed that position at the cabinet level. He told ministers that Pakistan should stand with Bangladesh completely on this issue.
The irony here is clear. Sharif said politics should not be mixed with sports. But Pakistan is making a political decision to boycott the India match. That match is set for the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15. India and Pakistan sit in Group A along with the Netherlands, Namibia, and the USA.
ICC Warning and Potential Consequences
ICC has not yet received an official written letter from PCB regarding the boycott. Back-channel talks are happening between the two sides. ICC issued a warning about long-term implications for Pakistan cricket. The governing body found no credible security threat that would justify the boycott.
Several consequences could affect Pakistan if it goes through with this. ICC might impose sanctions or disciplinary measures. The board could restrict NOCs for Pakistani players wanting to play in overseas leagues. Broadcasters might take legal action since India versus Pakistan is the most lucrative match in cricket. Revenue-sharing agreements could also be affected.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has begun talks with the ICC, but nothing is official yet. The boycott impact extends beyond just two points in the group stage. ICC warned this could affect Pakistan’s standing in world cricket for years.
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Match Details and Tournament Context
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2013. They only face each other in ICC tournaments now. The February 15 match in Colombo was supposed to be one of the biggest games of the group stage. If Pakistan does not show up, India will likely receive full points without playing.
The tournament starts on February 7. Pakistan has warm-up matches scheduled in Sri Lanka. Their game against Ireland got abandoned due to rain in Colombo. India beat South Africa in their warm-up at Navi Mumbai. Both teams are preparing for the tournament even as this boycott issue remains unresolved.
ICC has grouped India and Pakistan together in tournaments since 2012. The 2025 Champions Trophy set a precedent when India’s matches were moved to Dubai. Pakistan agreed to that arrangement. Now Pakistan wants a similar arrangement but for different reasons.
Scotland came in to replace Bangladesh after the ICC removed them from Group C. That created another change to the tournament structure just weeks before it started. The Pakistan decision adds more uncertainty.
PCB has not yet sent formal confirmation to ICC. The government announced the boycott through official channels. Cricket officials are still talking behind closed doors. Prime Minister Sharif made the political position clear in his cabinet address. Pakistan will play the tournament but skip the India game.
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