Pakistan’s decision to not play India in their high-voltage clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has sparked fresh controversy, with the government stepping in to block the February 15 fixture in Colombo. While no official reason has been provided, the move is being widely viewed as a political signal of solidarity with Bangladesh, whose team was earlier ejected from the tournament after refusing to play matches in India.

The announcement has once again dragged cricket into a sensitive geopolitical space, overshadowing what was expected to be one of the biggest fixtures of the World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reacted cautiously but firmly, advising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider the decision and warning of potential long-term consequences.

Reports suggest that sanctions, including the possibility of Pakistan facing suspension from international cricket, could be on the table if the boycott goes ahead. While the ICC has not publicly confirmed any punitive measures, the governing body has stressed that selective participation goes against the spirit of global tournaments and risks undermining the competition’s integrity.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has come out strongly in defence of the PCB, arguing that the board is being unfairly portrayed as the villain for following government directives. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ali pointed out what he sees as double standards in how similar situations have been handled in the past.

“India initiated this behaviour,” Basit Ali said. “Shaking hands is not mandatory… The Indians refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi because their government refused. Now, when we are boycotting a game at our government’s request, are we suddenly the bad guys? If India can do it, Pakistan can too!”

Ali also revisited historical precedents to question the ICC’s stance. He cited the 1996 ODI World Cup, when Australia and West Indies forfeited matches in Sri Lanka over security concerns, and the 2003 World Cup, when England and New Zealand refused to play in Zimbabwe and Kenya, respectively. According to Ali, those teams only lost points and did not face harsher sanctions.

“Did they face any additional penalties? And now there is talk of banning the Pakistani cricket team. Karke dekhlo! (Try it!),” he said.

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The former batter further questioned why the ICC expects formal communication from the PCB when, in his view, no such demand was made of the BCCI when India declined to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. With both boards citing government clearances in their decisions, the standoff has put the ICC in a difficult position. As the World Cup approaches, uncertainty continues to hang over the marquee India vs Pakistan clash, threatening to impact not just the tournament’s narrative but also its commercial and sporting value.