India vs Pak T20 World Cup controversy Highlights: Pakistan to play vs India, confirms Pak government

The India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash will go ahead as scheduled after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a dramatic U-turn on its proposed boycott following discussions with ICC officials.

The announcement was confirmed via the Government of Pakistan's social media account.

"In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup," the tweet wrote.

Pakistan’s men’s cricket team will play their blockbuster ICC T20 World Cup 2026 clash against arch-rivals India as scheduled, Pak media house, Geo News reported on Monday.

According to the report, the decision followed a telephonic conversation in which Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the proposed boycott of the high-profile encounter at the 20-team tournament.

The Pakistani media house reported that during the phone call, the Sri Lankan president referred to the long-standing cricketing ties between the two nations, emphasising the mutual support they have extended to each other in challenging times.

In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the sentiments expressed by the Sri Lankan leader and reportedly gave the green signal to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to proceed with the India match as scheduled.

Are Pakistan close to a U-turn on India boycott stance? 

When asked about the ICC delegation's visit to Pakistan, Mohsin Naqvi said: “When a guest comes over, then you try and forget a lot of things.”

It's the clearest hint yet that PCB is set for a U-turn on the India boycott, says Nikhil Naz. 

Mohsin Naqvi also said that an official communication will be released by the PCB soon. 

Naqvi was attending the auction of Pakistan Super League franchise Multan Sultans in Rawalpindi on Monday. 

Pakistan fast bowler Salman Mirza, speaking to the press on Monday in Colombo, said Pakistan are not worried about the uncertainty over their match against India and are going ahead with preparations, as usual. 

Pakistan will take on USA in their second Group A match in Colombo on Tuesday evening. 

"We are preparing for the entire World Cup. We will play accordingly to the team we have to play. It will be the decision of the government. We will do whatever is told to us," he said when asked about the February 15 match. 

As he is leading Pakistan Cricket Board's discussions with the ICC and the Pakistan government, Mohsin Naqvi was spotted earlier in the day in the auction of Pakistan Super League franchise Multan Sultans. 

There is a major breakthrough on the way on the Indo-Pak World Cup match.

Vikrant Gupta, Senior Managing Editor of AajTak, brings us the details. 

"PCB’s Mohsin Naqvi is now reaching out to the Pakistan government with the ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta and the ICC Chair of Associates Mubashshir Usmani, backed by Imran Khwaja and Jay Shah leading the negotiations. I am told no deadlines have been set, but a resolution is expected very soon," he says. 

• The PCB urged the ICC to ask India to engage in bilateral cricket with Pakistan. The ICC rejected the request, stating that bilateral engagements do not fall within its jurisdiction, including during the World Test Championship cycle.
• The PCB also proposed a tri-series involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The ICC turned down the suggestion, reiterating that it was not within its domain.
• The board further insisted that India tour Bangladesh later this year for the scheduled series. The ICC again declined, maintaining that bilateral tours are outside its authority. 
  Here is the full story (INPUTS BY VIKRANT GUPTA)

The PCB laid out the following demands on Sunday night:

• Bangladesh should not be penalised. They must receive their full share of ICC revenue. The ICC had already decided on its own not to impose any penalty on Bangladesh.
• The ICC must allot a compensatory tournament to Bangladesh, as last year’s Women’s T20 World Cup was shifted from Bangladesh to Dubai due to civil unrest. Bangladesh may be awarded an Under-19 World Cup in the next cycle.
• India must be asked to engage with Pakistan in bilateral cricket. The ICC rejected this demand, stating that it does not fall under its jurisdiction — even within the World Test Championship cycle.
• India, Pakistan and Bangladesh should play a tri-series. The ICC rejected this as well, saying it is not within its domain.
• India must tour Bangladesh later this year for the scheduled series. The ICC again rejected the proposal, maintaining that it is not within its authority.

The ICC has given the PCB a day to respond, as Mohsin Naqvi said he wants to consult the Pakistan Prime Minister. The meeting is expected to take place shortly, with an official ICC announcement likely later this evening or by tomorrow morning.

Amid the controversy, Pakistan will need to ensure their focus remains firmly on the field as they take on the United States on Tuesday in Colombo. While Pakistan edged past the Netherlands, their middle order looked scratchy and far from convincing.

The USA, who stunned Pakistan in 2024, cannot be taken lightly, and any lapse in concentration could prove costly.

Following this fixture, Pakistan will have a five-day gap before their next scheduled match against India—should that much-anticipated encounter eventually take place.

Well, a U-turn is on the cards. But, as of now, Pakistan Cricket Board has maintained that it will stick to the government directive. 

The controversy began when the Pakistan government publicly announced that it would not allow the team to play India at the T20 World Cup, despite the fixture being scheduled at a neutral venue. The Shehbaz Sharif-led government did not clearly spell out the reasons behind the boycott of their arch-rivals.

But, it is assumed that the Pakistan government wanted to take Bangladesh's side after it was replaced by Scotland. Bangladesh refused to travel to India, citing security concerns, and demanded their group-stage games be shifted to Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the tournament. However, the ICC shot down Bangladesh's concerns and eventually replaced them with Scotland. 

"We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won't play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field," Sharif stated at a government meeting in Islamabad.

"We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision. We are with Bangladesh," he added.

Sharif's remarks were the first official comments from either the Pakistan government or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that made public the reason behind the boycott of the T20 World Cup match.

With the three reported demands, the Pakistan Cricket Board appears to be attempting to strong-arm the ICC. The PCB seemingly believes that the world body is at risk of missing out on a significant chunk of broadcasting revenue if the India–Pakistan match does not go ahead, and that this leverage could force the ICC into conceding to its demands.

Pakistan are currently the fourth-highest earners from ICC revenue distributions. The PCB receives 5.75 per cent of the total revenue generated by the ICC. As per 2023 figures, Pakistan earn USD 34.51 million annually from the ICC, funds that are crucial to sustaining the country’s cricketing ecosystem. Only three boards earn more than the PCB: Cricket Australia (USD 128 million), the England and Wales Cricket Board (USD 139 million), and the BCCI (USD 293 million).

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has placed three demands before the International Cricket Council (ICC) if it is to consult its government and explore the possibility of reversing its decision not to play its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, according to Cricbuzz. Members of the PCB, along with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Aminul Islam Bulbul, met an ICC delegation in Lahore on Sunday to explore an amicable solution, with a focus on ensuring that the India–Pakistan match goes ahead as scheduled.

Among other conditions, Pakistan has reportedly asked for a larger share of the revenue generated by the ICC.

'Three Demands Made By Pakistan To The ICC'

1. Increased share in ICC revenue
2. Restoration of bilateral cricket with India
3. Enforcement of the handshake protocol

The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly set to clarify its stance on the proposed boycott of its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India within the next 24 hours, following a marathon meeting with senior ICC officials in Lahore. With the mega India vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup group-stage match on February 15 just around the corner, the issue has quickly turned into one of the biggest talking points in world cricket.

According to reports, the PCB is now expected to consult Pakistan’s federal government before taking a final call. Officials believe the next 24 hours could prove decisive, as the board weighs both political direction and the wider consequences of stepping away from cricket’s most watched rivalry. Naqvi is also likely to address a press conference today, with clarity expected soon after.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this evening to provide a high-level briefing on the potential boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. Naqvi will outline the outcomes of his discussions with the ICC delegation, led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja, which took place yesterday in Lahore to address the deadlock.

With the ICC expected to issue a final announcement today or within the next 24 hours, all eyes are on the Prime Minister’s Office for a definitive stance that could either salvage the tournament’s marquee fixture or confirm a historic standoff.