New Delhi, Feb 1 (NationPress) The International Cricket Council (ICC) declared on Sunday that Pakistan's choice to engage selectively in the forthcoming Men's T20 World Cup 2026 while boycotting its Group A match against India jeopardizes the integrity of international cricket and may lead to enduring repercussions for the sport within the country.

The governing body released a statement following a post from the Pakistani government on X, indicating that it had permitted the Pakistan team to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament. However, they would abstain from playing against India on February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, without disclosing any reasons.

The ICC further stated it is still awaiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding this matter. “The ICC is aware of the statement made by the government of Pakistan concerning the decision to instruct its national team to participate selectively in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026,” they mentioned.

“While the ICC is awaiting official communication from the PCB, this selective participation is hard to reconcile with the fundamental principles of a global sports event where all qualified teams are expected to compete fairly according to the event schedule.

“ICC tournaments are founded on the principles of sporting integrity, competition, consistency, and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of these competitions.

“While the ICC acknowledges the role of governments in national policy matters, this decision does not serve the global game or the interests of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.

“The ICC hopes that the PCB will reflect on the significant and long-term implications for cricket in Pakistan, as this could affect the global cricket ecosystem, of which it is both a member and a beneficiary.

“The ICC is focused on the successful execution of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which should also be a responsibility shared by all its members, including the PCB. It anticipates that the PCB will pursue a mutually agreeable solution that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders,” the ICC stated.

The match between India and Pakistan typically generates substantial revenue and garners more viewership than any other match in ICC tournaments. To optimize commercial returns for all involved, India and Pakistan have been grouped together in every tournament since 2012, despite deteriorating diplomatic relations that have led to a lack of bilateral cricket for 14 years.

It remains uncertain what the outcome would be if the teams were to face off in a knockout match. Pakistan's involvement in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup was cast into doubt after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that the government would make the final decision following Bangladesh's exclusion from the tournament on January 24.

Bangladesh was removed after declining to play in India due to security concerns and was replaced by Scotland. Naqvi even consulted with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and indicated that he had been advised to keep all options open, mentioning that a decision would be made by 'Friday or next Monday.'

Pakistan is placed in Group A along with India, Namibia, Netherlands, and the United States of America (USA). All of Pakistan's matches are set to take place in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament with India. Pakistan will commence its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, the tournament's opening day, before competing against the USA and Namibia on February 10 and 18 respectively.

Pakistan risks forfeiting two points if they proceed with the boycott against India. ICC playing regulations indicate that Pakistan's net run rate would also be negatively impacted by a forfeit. Clause 16.10.7 specifies that in a forfeit, 'the complete 20 overs of the defaulting team's innings in such forfeited match shall be considered in calculating the average runs per over of the defaulting team throughout the relevant segment of the competition.'