Prime Minister says Pakistan’s decision to boycott India clash at T20 World Cup 2026 is a protest against Bangladesh’s exclusion and the ICC’s “double standards”

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the country’s decision to boycott the men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match against India was taken after careful consideration and as an act of solidarity with Bangladesh, who were removed from the tournament. This marks the first time a senior official from either the Pakistan government or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has publicly explained the reasoning behind the boycott.

Addressing members of his cabinet on Wednesday, Sharif said Pakistan had adopted a clear and principled position. “We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won’t play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field,” he said. “We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision.”

Earlier on Sunday, the Pakistan government announced that while the team would participate in the T20 World Cup, it would not take the field for the February 15 group match against India. The statement followed a week of uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation in the tournament but did not spell out the reasons behind the decision.

The PCB has so far not commented publicly. However, the ICC issued a statement hours after the government’s post, urging the PCB to consider the “significant and long-term implications” of the boycott. The ICC added that such a move could impact the global cricket ecosystem and said it expected the PCB to work towards a “mutually acceptable resolution” that protects the interests of all stakeholders.

It remains unclear whether the PCB has formally informed the ICC of its decision or whether direct communication has taken place between the two bodies.

Sharif’s comments, however, confirm that the boycott is directly linked to Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, had earlier criticised the ICC for what he described as “double standards” in handling the situation.

Bangladesh were replaced in the T20 World Cup after their government refused to allow the team to travel to India, citing security concerns. The Bangladeshi government had proposed that their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament and the venue where Pakistan are scheduled to play all their games.

The ICC Board eventually voted 14-2 in favour of replacing Bangladesh with Scotland instead of relocating their fixtures. The PCB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were the only two members to vote against the decision.

Following the vote, Naqvi drew parallels with India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in 2025. “You can’t have double standards,” he said. “You can’t say for one country they can do whatever they want and for the others to do the complete opposite. That’s why we’ve taken this stand. Bangladesh have had an injustice done to them. They should play in the World Cup — they are a major stakeholder in cricket.”

Pakistan’s stance has added another layer of complexity to the T20 World Cup 2026, with the ICC now under pressure to resolve the issue amid growing concerns over governance, consistency, and fairness in global cricket decision-making.