The T20 World Cup 2026 has not started yet, but the controversy has already deepened. There remains uncertainty over Pakistan’s refusal to play against India in the tournament. A new twist in this matter came when Bangladesh Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul publicly thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for boycotting the match against India. He described it as a symbol of solidarity with Bangladesh.
Taking to Facebook on Thursday, Nazrul accepted Pakistan’s stand and described it as a protest against Bangladesh’s exclusion from the multinational tournament.
Asif Nazrul wrote, “Thank you, Pakistan,” and also shared what Sharif said during the cabinet meeting in Islamabad earlier this week. During the meeting, Sharif met Colombo’s R. Had informed about Pakistan’s decision not to play in the high-profile match against India to be held on February 15 at Premadasa Stadium.
“Pakistan has decided not to play the match against India in protest against Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup,” Sharif was quoted as saying. He said that this step has been taken very thoughtfully, and emphasized that politics should not influence sports competitions and Pakistan stands firmly with Bangladesh.
The Pakistan government had already confirmed that its national team would not take part in the group-stage clash against India, raising concerns over the integrity and scheduling of the tournament.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a strong statement urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to work towards a mutually agreed solution. The governing body warned that selective participation goes against the very foundation of a global sporting event.
“Until the ICC receives official communication from the PCB, it is difficult to reconcile select participation with the fundamental principle of a global tournament where all qualified teams are expected to compete as scheduled,” the ICC said. It further warned that Pakistan’s stance could have significant long-term consequences for its own cricket ecosystem and the global game at large.