ICC seeks ‘mutually acceptable resolution’ as Pakistan boycott India T20 World Cup match

2026-02-02 - 03:56

DUBAI – International Cricket Council (ICC) has called for a mutually acceptable resolution following Pakistan’s announcement of skipping India match in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. “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. It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders,” read official statement. While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule. It added that ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions. While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan. “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”. Pakistan to boycott Feb 15 match of T20 World Cup against India A day earlier, the Pakistan government barred the Green shirts from playing the February 15 match of the T20 World Cup against arch-rivals India. In a post shared on micro-blogging platform X (former Twitter) on Sunday, the federal government has given a go-ahead to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the mega event. However, the Pakistan cricket team has been stopped from playing the game against India. Though no reason has been given, the move is aimed at expressing solidarity with Bangladesh and recording a protest against the biased attitude of the International Cricket Council (ICC) when dealing with India and other member countries. “The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India”, reads