Will IND vs PAK happen at the T20 World Cup 2026? Yes — the February 15 blockbuster in Colombo is officially set to go ahead after Pakistan withdrew its boycott.
The India vs Pakistan group-stage fixture was briefly thrown into doubt following Pakistan’s public stance on not playing the match. However, after days of high-level negotiations involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the standoff was resolved late on February 9.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the decision for the national team to take the field, ending a ten-day impasse that had cast uncertainty over the tournament’s biggest group-stage clash.
While no official cancellation was ever issued during the episode, the absence of clarity had sparked widespread speculation around an IND vs PAK boycott. That uncertainty has now been removed.
Here is the complete IND vs PAK match update, including how the situation unfolded and what it means for the T20 World Cup 2026.
(updated on Feb 10, 2026)
Latest Update: Will IND vs PAK Match Happen? Final Decision Confirmed
The question — will IND vs PAK match happen at the T20 World Cup 2026 — has now been officially answered.
Pakistan have withdrawn their boycott, and the February 15 group-stage clash in Colombo will go ahead as scheduled.
In a late-night statement on February 9, the Pakistan government directed the national team to take the field against India, bringing an end to the ten-day standoff that had cast doubt over the tournament’s biggest fixture.
The government statement confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the decision after multilateral discussions involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and other member boards.
The statement read:
“The Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport.”
The ICC also confirmed that discussions had concluded successfully, reiterating that all members are expected to honour their participation commitments.
The breakthrough came after intensive negotiations, including meetings in Lahore between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Bangladesh Cricket Board officials, and ICC director Imran Khawaja. Earlier in the day, the ICC had confirmed that Bangladesh would not face penalties over the related dispute, which had been central to Pakistan’s objections.
With the boycott officially withdrawn, there is now no uncertainty surrounding the fixture.
So, will IND vs PAK match happen? Yes — the February 15 clash in Colombo is confirmed.
Earlier on February 9, the impasse between the ICC and PCB had appeared to be heading toward a resolution after a high-level tripartite meeting in Lahore involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The matter had reportedly reached Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was expected to give the final nod following a meeting with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi. With less than a week remaining before the fixture, further delay would have created logistical complications for fans and teams.
Amid ongoing speculation around will IND vs PAK match happen at the T20 World Cup 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a significant media release on February 9 that added fresh momentum toward the fixture being played.
BCB President Md Aminul Islam said: “We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish.” He further urged Pakistan to participate in the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match.
At that stage on February 9, the question “Will IND vs PAK happen?” had appeared closer to a yes — pending formal confirmation, which later arrived that same evening.
IND vs PAK Boycott Update: What Suryakumar Yadav And Salman Agha Said
- Pakistan’s position remains that the India game is a government decision and “not in our control”, with captain Salman Ali Agha reiterating that the players will follow whatever the government and PCB decide.
- India, meanwhile, say they are preparing as if the game will go ahead. Captain Suryakumar Yadav said India have not refused to play, confirming the team has been told “we have to play a game on the 15th” and that travel plans to Colombo are already in place.
- Suryakumar also indicated that while it is a “difficult call” for administrators to resolve, the squad’s schedule is clear internally: India will play on February 7, return to Delhi, and then travel to Colombo for the February 15 fixture.
Is India vs Pakistan Match Cancelled in T20 World Cup 2026?
As of now, the India vs Pakistan match has not been officially cancelled by the ICC, but Pakistan have confirmed they will not take the field for the scheduled encounter. Will Ind vs Pak happen? We don’t know yet, but what we do know is this:
The Pakistan government has cleared the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 but has issued a directive not to play against India. Acting on these instructions, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed the ICC of its position regarding the February 15 fixture in Colombo.
This means the IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026 match is set to be boycotted, rather than abandoned due to weather or security concerns. No rescheduling has been announced so far.
Why Pakistan Has Boycotted the India Match
Pakistan’s decision to withdraw from the India match is rooted in a series of political and cricketing developments involving Bangladesh, India, and the ICC.
Earlier this year, Bangladesh requested its T20 World Cup matches be moved out of India, proposing a hybrid model similar to the 2023 Asia Cup. The ICC rejected the request after an independent security assessment found no credible threats. Pakistan was the only board to support Bangladesh during the ICC vote.
Following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel, the ICC replaced them with Scotland in the group stage. In response, the Pakistani government instructed the PCB to proceed with the tournament but to avoid playing India, citing solidarity with Bangladesh.
Despite having contractual obligations to play matches on neutral venues, the PCB has chosen to comply with government directives, leading to the current IND vs PAK boycott situation.
Timeline of India–Pakistan Cricket Relations (2022–2026)
The strained relationship between India and Pakistan in cricket has been building over several years, with repeated flashpoints across ICC and ACC events.
- October 2022: India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup 2023, triggering the hybrid model.
- August 2023: Pakistan’s name was removed as host from the Asia Cup logo used in India.
- November 2024: India declined to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
- February 2025: India refused to send umpires and commentators to Pakistan for CT25, while Pakistan’s host branding was removed from broadcasts in India.
- September 2025: Multiple controversies during the Asia Cup, including refusal to shake hands, on-air gestures, and India declining to receive the trophy from a Pakistani ACC official.
- February 1, 2026: Pakistan officially announced it would not play the India match at the T20 World Cup.
These events have directly shaped the current uncertainty around whether PAK vs IND T20 World Cup 2026 will take place.
What Happens If Ind vs Pak Is Not Played?
If Pakistan do not take the field, the ICC will have to decide whether the match is treated as a walkover, a forfeit, or a no-result. At this stage, the ICC has not issued a formal clarification.
The outcome will have a direct impact on Group A, which includes India, Pakistan, USA, Namibia, and the Netherlands. Two teams from the group will qualify for the Super 8 stage.
Pakistan’s campaign is already under pressure due to external factors. Their warm-up match against Ireland in Colombo was abandoned without a toss because of rain, and weather forecasts suggest further disruption during the group stage. If that happens, they might be on the verge of exit by the time they play India because their first match against Netherlands is under weather threat.
Pakistan’s Qualification Concerns Before the India Match
Pakistan are scheduled to play all their group matches in Colombo, where weather conditions have been unpredictable.
Pakistan fixtures T20 World Cup 2026
- Sat, 07 Feb 2026: Pakistan vs Netherlands — Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo — Pakistan win by 3 wkts
- Tue, 10 Feb 2026: Pakistan vs USA — Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo — 7:00 PM IST
- Sun, 15 Feb 2026: India vs Pakistan — R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo — 7:00 PM IST
- Wed, 18 Feb 2026: Pakistan vs Namibia — Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo — 3:00 PM IST
Pakistan opened their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought three-wicket win over the Netherlands on February 7, navigating a tense chase that swung in their favour late in the innings. A crucial cameo from Faheem Ashraf under pressure ensured Pakistan secured two valuable points in a closely contested match.
With that victory, Pakistan avoided the early setback that rain could have caused and kept their Super 8 qualification hopes firmly alive.
Their second group match against the USA on February 10 now becomes an opportunity to build momentum and strengthen their net run rate. However, uncertainty around the February 15 fixture against India still carries implications. If Pakistan were to skip the India game, they would forfeit a key opportunity to secure points in what is often a decisive group-stage clash.
Their final group match against Namibia on February 18 also carries some weather risk, though forecasts remain fluid. Even so, after beating the Netherlands, Pakistan are no longer staring at a scenario where qualification is weakened before the India fixture.
So now, will IND vs PAK happen? As of the latest developments, the match appears likely to go ahead pending final approval, but had Pakistan skipped it, their Super 8 path would have become significantly more complicated.
Can ICC Force India vs Pakistan to Play?
The ICC does not have the authority to override a sovereign government’s directive. While contractual obligations exist between boards and the ICC, participation in individual matches ultimately depends on government clearance.
Given the current stance of the Pakistani government, the ICC cannot compel Pakistan to play the India match. Unless there is a policy reversal or diplomatic intervention, the IND vs PAK match update remains unchanged.
FAQ — Will Ind vs Pak Happen At T20 World Cup 2026?
Will Ind vs Pak happen in T20 World Cup 2026?
At present, Pakistan have confirmed they will not play the match against India, making it unlikely.
Is the Ind vs Pak match cancelled?
The ICC has not officially cancelled the match, but Pakistan’s boycott means it may not be played.
What happens if Pakistan do not play against India?
The ICC will decide whether the match is treated as a forfeit, walkover, or no-result.
Can the ICC reschedule the Ind vs Pak match?
A reschedule is unlikely unless Pakistan reverse their decision and receive government clearance.
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For schedule, venues and latest updates, see our T20 World Cup 2026 news page.
