Pakistan will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but will not take the field in its scheduled match against India on February 15, the government said on Tuesday, confirming a politically sensitive decision ahead of the global tournament.

In an official statement, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan said it had granted approval for the Pakistan cricket team to take part in the T20 World Cup 2026, but with a clear condition that Pakistan would not play the high-profile group-stage match against India.

The decision was taken following a meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the statement.

“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India,” the statement said.

The development comes amid a broader Bangladesh controversy, which has already cast a shadow over the tournament. Bangladesh were removed from the T20 World Cup 2026 and replaced by Scotland in the tournament, a decision that triggered criticism from several quarters, including Pakistan, over what was described as inconsistent treatment by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 1, 2026

Bangladesh’s replacement — following disputes related to hosting arrangements, security concerns and scheduling under the hybrid model involving India and Sri Lanka — intensified debate over governance and fairness in international cricket, with Pakistan openly expressing solidarity with Bangladesh earlier in the row.

The T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, is now facing renewed uncertainty as political considerations intersect with cricketing commitments. A Pakistan–India clash is traditionally the tournament’s biggest commercial draw, and Pakistan’s refusal to play the fixture could force the ICC to revisit scheduling or points-allocation scenarios.

Despite opting out of the India match, Pakistan’s participation in the rest of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 signals a calibrated approach rather than a full boycott, following days of speculation linked to the Bangladesh issue and regional tensions.

The ICC has yet to issue an official response on how Pakistan’s decision will impact the tournament structure, while cricket administrators continue to monitor the fallout from both the Pakistan–India match refusal and the Bangladesh replacement controversy, which together have made the build-up to the World T20 unusually fraught.