Pakistan departs for T20 WCup while waiting for ICC reaction

Islamabad, Feb. 3: Pakistan departed for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka on Monday and awaited any sanction from the International Cricket Council for refusing to play India in the tournament.

In video footage released by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the cricketers were dressed in their new World Cup kit as they boarded a bus from a hotel to the airport in Lahore.

India is co-hosting the World Cup but Pakistan will play all of its games in Sri Lanka — including any in the knockout stage — because of political tensions with India.

Pakistan shook the cricketing world when its government instructed the team on Sunday to compete in the World Cup but boycott the group game against India in Colombo on Feb. 15. The government did not give a reason on its X account. 

"The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026," the government posted Sunday on its official X account. "However, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India."

The PCB has reportedly not given official notice to the ICC. The ICC warned Pakistan there will be consequences.

The ICC said “the position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premises of a global sporting event.” The ICC added Pakistan’s decision was “not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.”

"While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan."

The ICC said its priority is to successfully organize the T20 World Cup and "expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders."

The ICC also said it "hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of."

Pakistan and India have fought four wars and frequently clash on their border, so their cricket matchups often attract the highest audience and are therefore a significant source of income for broadcasters, sponsors, and the ICC.

They are regularly grouped at ICC tournaments because they have not played a bilateral cricket series for 14 years. The T20 World Cup starts on Saturday when Pakistan is scheduled to open against the Netherlands.

Pakistan will play a final warmup game against Ireland on Wednesday in Colombo.

After Pakistan wrapped up a 3-0 Twenty20 series win over Australia on Sunday in Lahore, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said he will follow the government’s instructions.

“It’s not our decision (to boycott the India game), we can’t do anything about it,” Agha said. “We will do whatever our government and the (PCB) chairman say.”

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had criticized governing body ICC for "double standards" by refusing to shift Bangladesh's games to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland for the tournament.

Naqvi was vocal in Pakistan's support for Bangladesh and left the decision of Pakistan's participation in the T20 World Cup to the government when he briefed Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on the issue.

A Pakistan vs. India tournament game attracts huge interest and is a significant source of income, through broadcasters and sponsors, for the ICC.

Pakistan and India have not played a bilateral cricket series for the last 14 years, but both nations have regularly been in the same group at ICC tournaments. (AP)