Cricket
Just days before the marquee clash, the Pakistan government officially announced that its national team will boycott the group-stage match against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan has been cleared to play the rest of the tournament, but has been strictly instructed not to take the field against India on February 15 in Colombo
The boycott is a political protest against the ICC, with reports suggesting it was triggered by the governing body’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after the country refused to shift its matches out of India
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will proceed as planned - travelling to Colombo, holding practice sessions, attending the press conference, and showing up for the toss as per ICC protocol
If Pakistan skips the toss, India will receive a walkover and two points. Pakistan’s Net Run Rate will also take a major hit, hurting their qualification chances
The ICC has warned that selective participation threatens tournament integrity. Possible consequences include huge fines, loss of ICC revenue, tournament expulsion, and future bans from global events