Pakistan to boycott T20 World Cup match against India, reiterates PM Shehbaz Sharif

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has firmly reiterated that his country will not participate in the much-anticipated T20 World Cup match against India, making it clear that the decision has been taken after careful consideration at the highest level.

Addressing the Federal Cabinet in Islamabad, Sharif stated that Pakistan’s stance on the issue remains unchanged. “We will not play the T20 World Cup match against India. Our position on this matter is absolutely clear,” he said, putting an end to speculation about a possible rethink.

The Prime Minister explained that the decision was not taken in haste. According to him, the government had reviewed the matter from all possible angles before arriving at the conclusion to boycott the fixture. “After thorough deliberations and consultations, we decided that boycotting the match was the right course of action,” Sharif added.

He further stressed that sports should remain free from political influence, but insisted that the current circumstances had forced Pakistan to adopt this stand. “There should be no politics in sports. However, after examining all aspects, we felt this was the most appropriate decision,” he remarked.

The controversy began after Bangladesh pulled out of the ICC T20 World Cup, citing security concerns about travelling to India. Bangladesh Cricket Board had requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to change its group and venue. However, the ICC rejected the demand and subsequently excluded Bangladesh from the tournament.

Following Bangladesh’s exit, reports emerged that Pakistan was considering supporting Bangladesh by boycotting the entire tournament. Later, the Pakistan government announced through a post on social media platform X that the national team would not take the field against India, though no detailed reason was provided at that time.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later clarified that the team would participate in the T20 World Cup but would skip only the league-stage match against India. This has reportedly left the PCB isolated, as several other cricket boards have distanced themselves from Pakistan’s stand.

Cricket experts believe that the boycott could create logistical and scheduling complications for the ICC, given the high-profile nature of India–Pakistan encounters. Matches between the two arch-rivals are considered the biggest draw in world cricket, attracting massive global viewership and commercial revenue.

Despite criticism from various quarters, the Pakistan government has remained firm on its position. Sharif made it clear that the decision reflects national policy and will not be reversed.

With the tournament drawing closer, all eyes are now on the ICC to see how it handles the situation. The development has once again highlighted how political tensions between the two neighbours continue to impact sporting relations.

Also Read: Pakistani YouTuber Threatens to bomb ICC Amid India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Row