Pakistan have decided to forfeit Group A match against India at T20 World Cup 2026.
The Pakistan government has allowed its national team to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, but it did not give them the green light to play against arch-rivals India on February 15. No reason has been specified for making this bold move.
Pakistan’s boycott decision is being seen as an act of solidarity with Bangladesh after their removal from the 20-tournament for refusing to travel to India citing 'security concerns'.
However, the ICC has made it clear that selective participation will not be allowed and asked Pakistan to reconsider their stance due to the long-term impact that it can have on cricket in the country.
Amid the standoff, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has challenged the ICC to ban his national team from international cricket.
If the Men in Green fail to take the field against India on February 15, the match will be ruled a forfeit under ICC rules, resulting in an automatic loss of two points and a hit to their net run rate. Moreover, severe sanctions are likely to be imposed on PCB that could isolate Pakistan cricket.
However, Basit believes Pakistan cannot be suspended because teams such as England, West Indies, and Australia weren't sanctioned in the past for refusing to play some World Cup matches in certain countries.
Pakistan’s situation, though, is completely different as they are slated to play all their T20 World Cup fixtures in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreement with the BCCI and ICC till 2027.
“West Indies and Australia forfeited their games in the World Cup of 1996. Besides the two points they lost, was any other penalty levied on them? England and New Zealand forfeited games in the World Cup 2003,” Basit said on YouTube show ‘Game Plan’.
“Did they face any additional penalties? And there is a conversation about the Pakistan cricket team being banned. Karke dekhlo,” he added.
Basit endorsed Pakistan’s selective boycott stance, saying that Indian team disrespected PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi during the 2025 Asia Cup by refusing to collect the trophy from him.
“India started this behaviour. Okay, fine, shaking hands is not mandatory. I’m not even going to talk about the decision of the Indian players not to shake hands with the Pakistan players. But the Indians refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi,” Basit stated.
“They should have accepted the trophy. They refused because the Indian government refused. Now, when we are boycotting a game because our government has asked us to, we’re suddenly the bad guys? If India can do it, Pakistan can too,” he remarked.
While Pakistan have decided to forfeit the group-stage match against India, no one knows what will happen if the two teams meet again in the knockout stage.
Speaking on the same line, Basit Ali said: “There is also a lot of conversation about what will happen if Pakistan and India make it to the semis or the final and have to face each other. Will Pakistan play that game? First, let the tournament advance from the group stages. Then we’ll see about the semis and final."