The Pakistan government has given the green light for its national cricket team to travel for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. However, in a surprising update, the government also stated that the team will not play their scheduled match against India. This big game was supposed to happen in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 15.
Even though they are skipping the India match, the Pakistan team will still play all their other games in the tournament. This news has created a lot of talk because the tournament starts very soon, on February 7.
Why Is This Happening?
The situation started to change after Bangladesh decided not to play their matches in India because of safety concerns. When the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to move Bangladesh’s matches to another country, Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland.
Pakistan’s leaders have expressed support for the concerns raised by other teams in the region. Because of the ongoing cold relations between the neighboring nations, sports often face these kinds of difficult hurdles.
What Does the ICC Say?
The ICC, which runs the World Cup, has responded to this news with a serious tone. They said that in a world tournament, all teams are expected to play every match as scheduled. The ICC warned that “selective participation”—where a team picks and chooses which matches to play—could cause long-term problems for the sport.
If Pakistan does not show up for the India match, they will likely lose two points. These points would go to India as a “walkover” win. This could make it harder for Pakistan to reach the next round of the World Cup.
A Look Back at Recent Tensions
This isn’t the first time cricket has been affected by politics. During the 2025 Asia Cup, India played its matches in Dubai instead of traveling to Pakistan. Fans also remember the “no-handshake” moments and the trophy ceremony confusion from last year, which showed how much pressure the players are under when relations are tense.
For now, the Indian team is expected to follow the rules and show up at the stadium in Colombo on match day, waiting to see if their rivals will join them on the pitch.
Dubai Diaries will keep you updated as more news comes in from the ICC and the cricket boards.
