ICC Warns PCB of 'Long-Term Consequences' After Pakistan Government Threatens to Boycott India T20 World Cup Match

Islamabad. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reacted strongly after the Pakistan government announced a boycott of the group stage match against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Less than three hours after the Pakistan government announced via the social media platform 'X' that it would not play against India, the ICC issued a statement warning that this would have a long-term impact on Pakistani cricket.

The ICC stated that it had not received official information from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on this matter, but clarified that such a directive from the government would promote a trend of playing only 'selective' matches, which goes against the spirit of global sports. The ICC noted that it is a fundamental condition of the tournament for all qualified teams to compete equally according to the schedule. The ICC concluded that the decision to play only selected matches would compromise the fairness, competition, and dignity of the tournament.