The development follows ICC’s decision to replace the Bangladesh team with Scotland after the former refused to play its matches in India, citing security concerns.
India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025
Pakistan cricket team will participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup tournament but will boycott the match against arch-rivals India, the Government of Pakistan announced on Sunday.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026.However, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India,” the Pakistani Government said on X, according to Geo TV.
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According to BCCI sources, the Indian team will travel to Sri Lanka on February 15 and follow the ICC protocol. The team will practice as per the schedule, hold a press conference and reach the stadium according to time and wait for the match referee to call off the match.
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The development follows ICC’s decision to replace the Bangladesh team with Scotland after the former refused to play its matches in India, citing security concerns.
The entire controversy started after a group of right wing leaders objected the inclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman in the Indian Premier League amid incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Following this, the BCCI asked the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Rahman. This didn’t go down well with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), with its President Aminul Islam Bulbul formally requesting the ICC to move Bangladesh team matches from India to Sri Lanka.
The BCB cited security concerns, saying that if India cannot provide security to one cricketer (Mustafizur Rahman), how can the entire team travel to the country.
The ICC rejected BCB’s request after n independent security assessment found no credible threat to the Bangladeshi team in India. As the ICC turned down BCB team’s request, Scotland replaced Bangladesh.
After this, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed solidarity with Bangladesh and said that Pakiatan will also reconsider its participation in the T20 World Cup.
He had said that the Government of Pakistan will take the final call. The ICC is yet to respond to Pakistan’s decision.
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