Mohsin Naqvi [Source: X.com]On Sunday, the Government of Pakistan made an important announcement regarding the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The government confirmed that the national men’s cricket team will take part in the 20-team mega tournament. At the same time, it directed the team not to play against arch-rivals India during the group stage. As per the schedule, India and Pakistan are set to face each other on February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.Mohsin Naqvi confirms Pakistan will play India in Semifinals or FinalFollowing the government’s statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board clarified its position. The PCB confirmed that if Pakistan and India qualify for the semifinals or the final, the Men in Green will take the field.Notably, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly stated that Pakistan will not boycott the knockout stages. He added that if both teams reach the later rounds, the matches will be played in Sri Lanka. He confidently expressed belief in Pakistan’s strength, stating that the team would aim to defeat India convincingly.T20 World Cup jersey launchThese remarks were made during the official jersey launch for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The PCB unveiled the new kit on Sunday after the third and final T20I against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha was seen wearing the jersey during the post-match presentation. ICC’s concerns over selective participationMeanwhile, the ICC has expressed serious concerns over the Pakistan government’s instruction to skip the group-stage match against India. In an official statement, the ICC noted that such selective participation goes against the principles of global sporting competition. The governing body acknowledged the government’s position, while stating that it is still waiting for formal communication from the PCB. The ICC highlighted that this situation is difficult to align with tournament regulations and long-standing competitive norms.Potential consequences for Pakistan cricketIt is important to note that the India–Pakistan match is widely regarded as the most commercially valuable fixture in world cricket. For this reason, the ICC has placed the two teams in the same group at every major tournament since 2012, despite the absence of bilateral series for over a decade.If Pakistan maintains its group-stage stance, the 2026 T20 World Cup would become the first men’s ICC event since 2010 without an India–Pakistan clash.Reports suggest the ICC may consider sanctions, including limits on No Objection Certificates for overseas players in the Pakistan Super League, leading to financial losses. There is concern that hosting rights for future ICC events could be affected if the issue escalates.The tenth edition of the T20 World Cup will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Under a pre-signed agreement, Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka. The team is placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA.
