Pakistan PM confirms no change in India boycott stance

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif once again confirmed that their senior men's national cricket team would not be playing India in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, during the group stages.

Speaking while addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad, he iterated how they wanted to take a clear stand regarding the matter and would not play India.

“We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India,” the Pakistan Prime Minister said.

“There should be no politics in sports,” he said.

“We have taken this stand after deliberating on it carefully,” he said, calling it an “appropriate decision."

India is meant to play Pakistan on Sunday, February 15, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Following the group-stage fixture, the two teams could be up against each other in the final as well. Although it remains unclear what Pakistan's stance is if they play India for the title.