BCCI Rejects Boycott Drama: India to Attend Feb 15 Match per ICC Rules
BCCI confirms India will follow ICC protocol for the Feb 15 match despite the Pakistan boycott.
India is set to adhere to International Cricket Council (ICC) protocols for their Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Pakistan on February 15, despite Pakistan’s decision to boycott the fixture. Sources from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the Indian team will travel to Colombo, practice as scheduled, conduct a press conference, and await the match referee’s official decision on the game.
“The team will follow all required ICC protocols, arrive at the stadium on time, and prepare as usual while waiting for the referee to call off the match if needed,” a BCCI official said.
The Pakistan government, in a post on X, announced that the Pakistan cricket team “shall not take the field” against India, citing solidarity with Bangladesh, which earlier refused to participate in the tournament over alleged security concerns. No further reason was provided by Pakistan for the boycott.
Also Read: Monank Patel Set to Captain USA Against India in T20 World Cup 2026
The ICC had previously rejected Bangladesh’s demand to relocate matches from India to Sri Lanka, after independent security assessments found no credible threats. Following Bangladesh’s refusal, Scotland was added to the tournament as the highest-ranked non-qualified team.
Team India enters the tournament in Group A, alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, the USA, and Pakistan. India, the defending champions, begin their campaign against the USA on February 7, followed by a clash with Pakistan on February 15. The Indian squad is captained by Suryakumar Yadav and includes players such as Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel.
Pakistan’s squad, led by Salman Ali Agha, features stars like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Fakhar Zaman. Historically, India has dominated ICC T20 World Cup encounters against Pakistan, winning 7 of 8 matches.
With tensions rising ahead of the February 15 fixture, the BCCI and Team India have emphasized following ICC regulations to ensure the tournament proceeds in accordance with official protocols, safeguarding the integrity and fairness of the World Cup schedule.
Also Read: Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 Boycott Threat Called Utter Nonsense by Irfan Pathan
