ICC Warns Pakistan of Sanctions Over India Match Boycott in T20 World Cup

Pakistan has announced it will boycott its T20 World Cup group match against India on February 15, 2026, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Pakistan government has approved the team's participation in the tournament, but will not allow them to play against India, citing unspecified reasons. This decision is likely a protest against Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after they refused to play in India due to security concerns. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned Pakistan of potential sanctions, including loss of points and financial penalties, stating that selective participation undermines the spirit of the competition. If Pakistan sticks to the boycott, they will forfeit two points, affecting their chances of advancing to the Super 8s. Pakistan's boycott of the India match will result in a points deduction, affecting their net run rate. They'll lose two points, and their NRR will be calculated assuming they played 20 overs with 0 runs scored. India's NRR won't be affected. Pakistan's schedule: Feb 7: vs Netherlands Feb 10: vs USA Feb 18: vs Namibia Feb 15: vs India (forfeited) The India-Pakistan fixture is indeed a highly anticipated and lucrative match in ICC tournaments, with the ICC ensuring they're in the same group since 2012. However, Pakistan has announced it will boycott their group match against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup, citing solidarity with Bangladesh, which was removed from the tournament after refusing to play in India due to security concerns. The ICC has warned Pakistan of potential sanctions, including loss of points, financial penalties, and possible bans on participating in future events. If Pakistan doesn't show up for the match, India will likely be awarded a walkover, handing them two points.