Despite Pakistan’s decision to boycott their much-anticipated group-stage clash against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Team India will travel to Sri Lanka as scheduled and adhere strictly to ICC protocols, sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed.
The India vs Pakistan match is slated for February 15 at Colombo’s SSC Cricket Ground. According to BCCI sources, the Indian team will follow the official match-day procedure, including practice sessions, pre-match press conferences and arrival at the venue on time, before awaiting the decision of the match referee.
“Team India will travel to Sri Lanka and follow all ICC protocols. The players will practice as per schedule, attend the press conference, reach the stadium on time and wait for the match referee to formally call off the match,” a BCCI source said.
Pakistan Declares Non-Participation in India Clash
Earlier, the Pakistan government announced that its team would not take the field against India in the February 15 fixture, despite approving Pakistan’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The announcement was made through an official post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Pakistan would skip only the match against India. No specific reason was provided for the decision.
The ICC has not yet issued an official statement on the implications of Pakistan’s boycott, with the final call expected to rest with the match referee and tournament officials.
India Enter Tournament in Strong Form
India head into the global tournament riding high on confidence after a dominant 4–1 T20I series victory over New Zealand. The Men in Blue are considered among the tournament favourites, with a settled squad and strong recent performances.
Historically, India have enjoyed a clear edge over Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cups, leading the head-to-head record 7–1, further strengthening expectations of Indian dominance in the marquee rivalry.
Tournament Schedule
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, running from February 7 to March 8, with matches scheduled across multiple venues in both countries.
The India-Pakistan situation now adds an unusual twist to the tournament, with global attention focused on how the ICC will handle the boycott and its impact on group standings.
