ICC warns Pakistan Cricket Board of consequences over unjustified boycott of India match

The ICC has said it “expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders,” following the Pakistan government’s announcement that Pakistan will boycott their group game against India at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
With the India–Pakistan fixture on February 15 likely to be the most commercially lucrative group match of the tournament, the ICC issued a statement two and a half hours after the Pakistan government’s post on X, saying 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, of which it is itself a member and beneficiary.”
The ICC said it had yet to receive any official communication on the matter from the PCB.
“The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the statement said. “While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event, where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms in accordance with the event schedule.
“ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions.
“While the ICC respects the role 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 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, of which it is itself a member and beneficiary.
“The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which should also be the responsibility of all its members, including the PCB. It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”
Pakistan’s participation, or the extent of it, at the 2026 T20 World Cup was thrown into doubt after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi reacted to Bangladesh being removed from the tournament on January 24 following their refusal to play in India due to security concerns. Pakistan was the only country to publicly support Bangladesh’s request for an alternate venue and accused the ICC of double standards favouring India. Naqvi said the government would ultimately decide whether Pakistan would take part in the tournament.
Pakistan are in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA, and are scheduled to play all their matches in Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament along with India. They play their opening match against the Netherlands on February 7, the first day of the T20 World Cup, before facing the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18. Pakistan will forfeit two points from their game against India if they boycott the fixture.
Under the ICC’s Playing Conditions, Pakistan’s net run rate will also be affected by the forfeiture, while India’s will remain unaffected. Clause 16.10.7 states that in the event of a forfeit, “the net run rate of the defaulting team shall be affected in that the full 20 overs of the defaulting team’s innings in such forfeited match shall be taken into account in calculating the average runs per over of the defaulting team over the course of the relevant portion of the competition.” (ESPNcricinfo)