Is Pakistan Out of T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan Out of T20 World Cup After India Forfeit? Here Are All Scenarios

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Modified - Feb 02, 2026, 06:33 AM

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In a recent turn of events, the Pakistan cricket team has decided not to participate in their Group A fixture against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. In an official statement released on the Government of Pakistan’s verified X handle, it was confirmed that clearance has been given for the national team to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament. However, the statement also mentions that Pakistan will not play the high-profile clash against India on 15 February 2026.

The India-Pakistan clash is the greatest rivalry in cricket and has traditionally been the biggest commercial and most-viewed contest at any ICC tournament. The ICC has consistently placed the two rivals in the same group at global events since 2012 to ensure at least one encounter between the rival nations.

Is Pakistan Out of T20 World Cup 2026?

Pakistan, one of the best cricket teams in the world, are placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA, and is scheduled to play all their T20 World Cup 2026 matches in Sri Lanka, who are the joint host along with India. Now, after they decided to boycott the match against India, the ICC has conveyed that there will be consequences for this selective participation.

If the PCB and the Pakistan government stay keen on their decision to opt out of the match against India, they will automatically forfeit the contest and surrender the two available points. As per the ICC’s Playing Conditions, such a forfeit would also negatively impact Pakistan’s net run rate, while India’s NRR would not be affected.

Clause 16.10.7 states that in the event of a forfeit, "the net run rate of the defaulting team shall be affected in that the full 20 overs of the defaulting team's innings in such forfeited match shall be taken into account in calculating the average runs per over of the defaulting team over the course of the relevant portion of the competition."

As a result, if Pakistan boycott India match, they can be in serious trouble. If they lose a single game in the league stage, it will likely hamper their 2026 T20 World Cup knockout qualification, and the chances of getting eliminated will rise. Their campaign begins on the opening day of the tournament, February 7, with a clash against the Netherlands, followed by fixtures against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.

At present, there is no clarity on how a potential meeting between India and Pakistan in the knockout stages would be handled, but recent developments around the 2026 T20 World Cup indicate it could become the first men’s ICC tournament since 2010 where India and Pakistan do not face each other during the group phase.

ICC Warns PCB After IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 Match Boycott

In response to the Pakistan government’s statement that the national team will not take part in its group-stage match against India at the 2026 T20 World Cup, the ICC stated that it expects the PCB to work towards a solution acceptable to all parties.

The official statement made by the apex body said, "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.
"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."

This Pakistan forfeit decision could bring serious implications for the PCB, as their finances and the overall cricketing ecosystem in the country could take a hit after creating trouble for global stakeholders. It remains to be seen how the PCB responds to ICC's warning and how the tournament goes ahead.