What Happens If Pakistan Boycotts India-Pak Match?
Pakistan has said it will play the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but will not play the match against India, creating uncertainty and risking heavy financial and cricketing losses.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 just a week away, fresh controversy has emerged after Pakistan announced it will not play its scheduled match against India. This comes after Bangladesh pulled out of the tournament earlier and was replaced by Scotland, adding to the growing uncertainty around the event.
On 1 February 2026, the Pakistan government said that while Pakistan will participate in the T20 World Cup, its players will not take the field against India in the group-stage match scheduled for 15 February. This announcement has triggered confusion, as no formal communication has yet been sent by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to the ICC.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi earlier questioned Pakistan’s participation after Bangladesh was removed for refusing to travel to India. He accused the ICC of double standards, pointing out that in the past, when India refused to travel to Pakistan, matches were shifted to neutral venues. Naqvi said Pakistan’s final decision would depend on discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In earlier tournaments, the ICC allowed India–Pakistan matches to be played at neutral venues like Dubai due to political tensions. This time, however, Pakistan has said it will play all other group matches but boycott only the India game. If the two teams meet again in the knockout stages, Pakistan said it will follow whatever decision its government takes at that time.
Despite public statements, sources say PCB has not officially informed the ICC about boycotting the India match. Because of this, the ICC is waiting before taking any action, and the situation remains unclear.
Reacting to the issue, Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha said the players will follow the decisions taken by the government and the board. From India’s side, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla said the board will not comment until discussions with the ICC are completed.
The ICC has warned that refusing to play a scheduled match could lead to serious consequences. Under ICC rules, such a match is treated as a forfeit, meaning India would get full points while Pakistan could lose points and suffer damage to its net run rate. Beyond this, Pakistan could face financial penalties, loss of ICC funds, cancellation of future series, loss of hosting rights, and restrictions affecting leagues like the PSL.
Experts say the biggest impact would be financial. The India–Pakistan match is valued at around $500 million, making it the biggest revenue generator in world cricket. Broadcasters, sponsors, the ICC, and other cricket boards would all face losses if the match is cancelled. While India can manage such losses, Pakistan could suffer long-term financial and reputational damage.
As of now, the ICC has not announced any final action. However, it has made it clear that selectively boycotting matches could have serious and lasting consequences for Pakistan cricket and the global game.
