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While Pakistan has confirmed their plans not play the 2026 T20 World Cup match against India at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 15th February, which
will see them lose two points if they do not change their stance and take a major hit on their Net Run Rate (NRR) but unless they or India suffer a shock defeat to USA, Namibia, or Netherlands, the Salman Ali Agha-led side should qualify for the Super Six but what happens if the arch-rivals face each other in the knockouts remains the big question. If the Men in Green do not turn up for a knockout fixture, it will mean that India gets automatic qualification for the final (if they play each other in the semi-final) or will be declared winners of the tournament if the 2009 winners decide against playing the summit clash.
Will Pakistan Boycott A Knockout Match vs India?
While there is precedent for teams boycotting a group stage game in the past, as Australia and West Indies did not play against Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup due to security concerns over travelling to the island nation. Similarly, New Zealand decided against travelling to Kenya in the 2003 World Cup for the same reasons, while in the same event, England did not make the trip to Zimbabwe as a mark of protest against Robert Mugabe's regime.
However, there has never been any instance in cricketing history of a team giving another a walkover in a knockout game? Will Pakistan become the first?
As per a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), no call has been made yet and a decision will be made closer to the date of the match.
"The board has also been notified by the government that the national team will not play against India on 15th February and forfeit points in the World Cup. As for the scenario where Pakistan might be required to play against India in the knockout stages, the board will follow any decision taken by the government at that time as well," a PCB source was quoted as saying by PTI.
Also Read: Explained: How NRR Will Be Impacted By Forefit And Why India Losing 1 Group Stage Match Could Knock Pakistan Out
"As far as the PCB is concerned for a while now there has been a growing feeling that the ICC has not been just in its dealings with some of the other boards more recently with Bangladesh and one board cannot be allowed to run world cricket," the source added as per the news agency.
