ICC Issues Statement on Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Stance

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has responded to the Pakistani government’s decision to prohibit its national team from competing against arch-rivals India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8.

The apex body, in a brief statement, revealed that despite the government’s announcement, it awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The ICC further termed Pakistan’s selective participation in the 20-team tournament “difficult to reconcile” with the principle of a global sporting event and claimed that it would undermine the spirit of the competition.

“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 per the event schedule,” the governing body said in a statement.

Although the ICC asserted that it respects the governments’ roles in national policy, it urged that the decision is not in the best interests of the sport and cricket fans, including Pakistanis, and expressed its hope that the PCB would consider the implications of the decision.

It further encouraged the PCB to explore a “mutually acceptable resolution” to protect the interests of the shareholders.

The ICC said its priority is the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a responsibility it said all members, including the PCB, must uphold.

“It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”

Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States. Under the tournament’s hosting model, Pakistan will play all of their matches in Sri Lanka.

The Green Shirts will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the United States on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.