The Pakistan government dropped a bombshell on Sunday, stating that Salman Ali Agha’s Pakistan cricket team have been given the green signal to take part in the T20 World Cup 2026. However, they are going
to boycott the game against arch-rivals India, scheduled to be held in Colombo on February 15.
The Pakistan Government announced on Sunday evening that Salman Agha & Co will not take the field against India on February 15.
“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 X post of the Pakistan Government read.
Pakistan’s current standoff is due to the ICC’s decision to eject Bangladesh from the tournament after it declined to accept security assurances for hosting matches in India and requested a complete shift of its fixtures to Sri Lanka.
Will Pakistan Qualify for Super 8?
Forfeiting the India fixture would mean gifting 2 points straightaway to India and putting themselves in a spot of bother. Pakistan are scheduled to face the Netherlands and the USA before the high-profile clash against India, with their fourth and final group-stage match coming against Namibia on February 18.
If Pakistan manage to secure victories against the Netherlands and the USA, and then go on to defeat Namibia as well, they would finish the group stage with six points and remain firmly in contention for a place in the Super 8. However, even a single defeat in those three matches would significantly dent their qualification prospects.
The Netherlands have a history of pulling off major upsets in ICC tournaments, while the United States have also impressed with their fearless brand of cricket. The USA famously defeated Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and went on to qualify for the next round as the second-placed team in their group.
