Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has clarified that the team’s stance on the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup 2026 is beyond the players’ control. Speaking to the media on the captains’ day ahead of the tournament, Agha confirmed that the final call rests with the Pakistan government and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the players will abide by whatever decision is taken.

“The India game isn’t in our control. It is the government’s and the PCB’s decision and we respect that. Whatever they are going to say, we will do that,” Salman Agha said, addressing the growing speculation around Pakistan’s participation in the Group-stage clash scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

Pakistan officially announced on February 1 that it would boycott the high-profile fixture, a move that has since sparked intense debate across the cricketing world. Despite the controversy surrounding the India match, the Pakistani government has cleared the national team to take part in the remainder of the T20 World Cup 2026, which gets underway on February 7 across venues in India and Sri Lanka.

ALSO READ: Washington Sundar Injury Update: Selectors Await Fitness Call As Harshit Rana Scare Emerges

Salman Agha also indicated that if Pakistan were to meet India again in the knockout stages, the team would once again defer to the authorities for guidance. “If we have to play them again in the semifinal or final, we will have to go back to them (government and PCB) and act on their advice,” he added.

The boycott decision has been framed as a political protest linked to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament after they declined to travel to India, citing security concerns. The ICC, however, rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate its matches to Sri Lanka, maintaining that its independent security assessment found no significant threat.

ALSO READ: Suryakumar Yadav Breaks Silence On India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Match Standoff

On the cricketing front, Agha was keen to shift focus back to performance and preparation. He was asked about Pakistan’s shock loss to the USA in the previous T20 World Cup, a result that dented the team’s campaign. “Yes, we lost to the USA in the last World Cup, but that is history now. It is a new World Cup, a new team and a new combination and we are very excited about it,” he said.

Pakistan will kick off their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands, aiming to put past disappointments behind them and start strongly despite the off-field noise surrounding the tournament.