The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear that the Men in Blue will continue to follow International Cricket Council (ICC) procedures regarding its T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage fixture against Pakistan.
Pakistan and India are scheduled to meet on February 15 in Colombo during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
However, the Government of Pakistan announced on Sunday that the national team will participate in the tournament but will not take the field against India in the group match.
Despite the boycott stance, BCCI sources said India is fully prepared to proceed as per the tournament schedule and fulfil all formal requirements laid down by the ICC.
“India will travel to Sri Lanka on 15th February and follow ICC protocol. They will practice as per schedule, do a press conference and reach the stadium according to time and wait for the match referee to call off the match,” a BCCI source said.
The development comes at a time when the ICC has already issued a strong warning to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), cautioning that “selective participation” in global events is not compatible with the spirit of ICC tournaments.
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Within hours of the Pakistan government’s announcement, the ICC released a sharply worded statement, stressing that such a move could have wider consequences not only for Pakistan cricket but also for the global cricket structure.
“The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of,” the ICC stated.
The world body further urged the PCB to explore solutions that protect the tournament’s integrity and ensure fairness for all stakeholders involved.
“The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which should also be the responsibility of all its members, including the PCB,” the statement added.
“It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”
READ: ICC issues warning to Pakistan over boycotting India clash