The T20 World Cup 2026 is being held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Pakistan is in Group A with India, and their big match was set for February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pakistan did not want to play any games in India because of security and political tensions. The ICC moved Pakistan’s matches to Sri Lanka.
But things got more complicated after the ICC removed Bangladesh from the tournament (they were a co-host but refused to play in India). The PCB supported Bangladesh and said the ICC showed unfair treatment. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi talked to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The PCB said the final call would come soon, but they made a strong point: they will join the World Cup but will not play the match against India on February 15.
The Pakistan government confirmed this. They gave permission for the team to go to Sri Lanka and play other games, but the players will not take the field against India. This means the famous India vs Pakistan game may not happen. Many fans are sad because this match is one of the biggest in cricket and brings huge excitement. Experts say the ICC and broadcasters are not happy, as this game makes a lot of money and viewership.
Some people think Pakistan may face penalties, but reports say the PCB believes they can skip just this one match without big trouble. Former players from both sides have shared views, some call it nonsense, while others say Pakistan is standing firm for fairness.
Last Time a Game Between the Nations Didn’t Happen
The last time an India vs Pakistan match in a major ICC event didn’t happen was never in recent World Cups or T20 events they always played when scheduled in multi-nation tournaments. But bilateral (direct series between only the two teams) matches have been cancelled many times.
The last full bilateral tour was Pakistan’s visit to India in 2007-08. After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, all bilateral cricket stopped. Since 2013, the two teams have not played any bilateral series. They only meet in ICC events like World Cups or Asia Cup.