New Delhi, Feb 1: Former India all-rounder and 1983 World Cup winner Madan Lal has strongly criticised Pakistan's decision to boycott its high-profile group-stage clash against India at the ICC Men's T20
World Cup 2026, calling the move damaging not just to the tournament but to Pakistan cricket itself.
Pakistan on Sunday confirmed through an official government statement that while its national team will participate in the T20 World Cup, it will not take the field on February 15 for the much-anticipated India match in Colombo.
The decision has been widely interpreted as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the declined its request to shift matches out of India.
Reacting sharply, Madan Lal questioned the logic behind the boycott and warned of serious consequences. "At the end of the day, who suffers? Bangladesh is going to suffer and you are going to suffer," he told news agency ANI. "You hardly got only two votes. Twelve other countries don't want to play with Bangladesh at some other venues. They want to play in India. "
'Why Damage the World Cup?'
Madan Lal said Pakistan's move, framed as solidarity with Bangladesh, was misplaced and counterproductive. "Pakistan is trying to show support to Bangladesh. Let them support Bangladesh. Why are they damaging the World Cup?" he asked, adding that such decisions undermine the spirit and commercial structure of global tournaments.
He stressed that cricket's biggest stakeholders remain the leading nations. "New Zealand, England, South Africa, Australia - they are the biggest countries for cricket. They will get the crowds, they will get the sponsorship, and the broadcasters will be very, very happy," Madan Lal said, underlining how marquee teams and fixtures drive the financial ecosystem of ICC events.
'Without Money, You Can't Run Cricket'
The former all-rounder was blunt in his assessment of the long-term impact on Pakistan cricket. "If they are doing this, they are not doing the right thing. They don't need their own cricket. Without money, you can't run cricket," Madan Lal warned, pointing to the central role India-Pakistan fixtures play in global broadcast revenue, sponsorship deals and ICC funding.
The India-Pakistan clash is traditionally the most watched match in any ICC tournament, often setting viewership records and accounting for a substantial portion of the tournament's commercial value. A walkover would award India full points. The ICC, however, has asked Pakistan to reconsider its decision.
Pakistan Government Confirms Partial Participation
In a statement posted on social media, the Government of Pakistan confirmed its stance, saying it had approved the national team's participation in the World Cup but barred it from playing India. "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 read.
Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18, all to be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.
Political Undertones and ICC Uncertainty
The standoff stems from the ICC's decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after it declined security assurances for matches in India and sought a full shift to Sri Lanka. When the ICC rejected the request and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, Pakistan announced it would reassess its participation in solidarity.
However, the PCB and the Pakistani government have yet to clarify what would happen if India and Pakistan were to meet in the knockout stages - a scenario that remains unresolved and could further complicate tournament logistics.
A source close to the PCB said chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to address the media soon, adding that it remains unclear whether the decision was purely governmental or taken in consultation with the Board.
