Reports: India to travel to Sri Lanka, do usual pre-match duties despite Pakistan boycotting T20 World Cup 2026 clash

Published - 01 Feb 2026, 22:58 IST | Updated - 01 Feb 2026, 23:11 IST

The Pakistan government has officially confirmed that the Pakistan Cricket Team, led by Salman Ali Agha, will boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 clash against arch-rivals India on February 15. The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo had been picked to host this encounter.

Despite Pakistan deciding to boycott the clash, reports suggest that the Indian squad will be heading to Sri Lanka and commence its usual pre-match preparations. The Men in Blue will wait for the match referee's call if and when Pakistan fail to take the field.

India will proceed with its plans strictly in accordance with protocols laid down by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan to boycott match against India

Pakistan’s decision was confirmed via a post by the government on 'X' (formerly Twitter), stating that while the country would compete in the ICC showpiece event in 2026, it would not participate in the group-stage game against India. No official reason has been provided for the decision so far, and there has been no detailed clarification from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or the ICC.