Pakistan Won’t Play Against India in T20 World Cup 2026, Says PM Shehbaz Sharif

February 5, 2026: The much-awaited India vs Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup 2026 is now in doubt. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan will not play the match against India. The game is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

Sharif spoke about the issue during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. He said the decision was not taken because of cricket. He said that sports should stay away from politics. He also said Pakistan is standing with Bangladesh and believes this is the right decision.

“We have taken a clear stand. Sports should not be mixed with politics. Pakistan will not play this match,” Sharif said.

Reports say the Pakistan Cricket Board has not officially told the ICC about the decision. Because of this, the ICC is waiting and has not made any move yet. Sources also said that Pakistan does not plan to send any official email to the ICC about skipping the match against India.

ICC to Follow Standard Procedure

With no written message from the PCB, the match is still listed in the tournament schedule. Because of this, the ICC is waiting for official confirmation before taking any decision. The issue may continue until close to match day.

India’s plans have not changed. The Indian team will travel to Colombo as planned and will complete all match duties. This includes the pre-match press conference before the game. India captain Suryakumar Yadav is also expected to be present for the toss on February 15.

What Happens If Pakistan Do Not Turn Up

If Pakistan do not come for the toss, the match officials will follow ICC rules. In that case, India will be given a walkover and awarded two points without any play.

If Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha does not attend the toss, it will confirm that Pakistan have forfeited the match.