Pakistan has announced it will not play its scheduled match against India in the upcoming 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, citing solidarity with Bangladesh. The decision was confirmed Sunday night through an official statement on the Pakistani government’s X account. While Pakistan will still participate in the tournament, it will skip the February 15 fixture against India. The move followed discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who finalized the boycott decision.

This marks the first time a team has officially boycotted a World Cup match in support of another nation. The PCB acknowledged potential financial penalties and loss of revenue but framed the decision as a stand against India’s dominance in world cricket. The boycott follows Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament after the ICC replaced it with Scotland, rejecting Bangladesh’s request to relocate matches from India to Sri Lanka over security concerns.

The ICC’s decision has drawn global criticism, with PCB Chairman Naqvi and Indian sports journalist Sharda Ugra accusing the body of double standards favoring India. Pakistan’s boycott is seen as a significant challenge to the ICC’s handling of member nations’ disputes.