'Clear stand': Pak PM doubles down on decision to boycott T20 World Cup match against India
PTC News Desk: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed the country’s decision to skip its T20 World Cup fixture against India, stating that Islamabad has taken a “clear stand” on the February 15 clash in Sri Lanka, Dawn reported. Addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad, Sharif said Pakistan would not take part in the match against India.
He added that the decision was made after thorough deliberations and stressed the need for a suitable course of action. Earlier, Pakistan had announced it would boycott the group-stage encounter with India, with the government stating on X that the Pakistan team “shall not take the field” for the match, without citing any specific reason.
In response, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said that “selective participation” undermines the core principle of a global sporting tournament and urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to work towards a mutually agreeable solution that safeguards the interests of all parties involved.
The ICC said in a release that it has noted the Government of Pakistan's statement regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
"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 release said.
- With inputs from agencies
