Following weeks of uncertainty, Pakistan’s government approved its national cricket team’s participation in the Men’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026. However, it barred the team from playing against India on February 15th, as initially scheduled. “The Government of Pakistan has granted approval for the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026,” read a post from the government’s X account. “However, the Pakistan cricket team shall not take the field in the match against India on February 15th, 2026.”
On Monday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met to discuss the potential boycott of the tournament, following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the event. During their meeting, Naqvi briefed Sharif about the ICC matter, stating that a “final decision would be taken either on Friday or next Monday.”
Additional developments were pending.