By Raveena Kumari 
Karachi | February 5, 2026
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has defended the country’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India, calling it a “considered stance” in support of Bangladesh.
The move comes after Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the tournament due to their refusal to play matches in India over security concerns. In response, the Pakistan government instructed the national cricket team to skip their scheduled match against India on February 15, 2026, in Colombo.
Pakistan Team’s Other Engagements
Pakistan has reached Colombo for its other preliminary matches, starting with a game against the Netherlands on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The team will continue with the tournament while skipping the India match as per government instructions.
Key Points:
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif calls boycott “appropriate decision”
Decision shows support for Bangladesh
India match on February 15 will be skipped
Other T20 World Cup games continue as scheduled
The Pakistan government’s stance highlights the geopolitical and sports diplomacy dimensions of the T20 World Cup 2026, underlining security concerns and solidarity with Bangladesh.
Shalu Shalu