The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has seconded the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) position on sportsmanship following Pakistan’s decision to boycott its group-stage clash against India at the T20 World Cup 2026.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the Indian board is aligned with the ICC’s views on the matter and will refrain from making any independent remarks until further discussions take place with the global governing body.
“ICC has issued a big statement, they have spoken about sportsmanship. We completely agree with the ICC. BCCI won’t make any comments on it until we speak with the ICC,” Shukla quoted as saying News18.
His comments came after the Government of Pakistan announced that its national team would not take the field against India in the much-anticipated group-stage encounter scheduled for February 15. While Pakistan has granted approval for participation in the tournament, the match against India has been explicitly excluded. No official reason was provided for the decision to skip the fixture.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India,” the Government of Pakistan said in a statement posted on X.
Reacting to the development, the ICC expressed concern over what it described as “selective participation,” stating that such a stance contradicts the foundational principles of global sporting events. The governing body emphasised that all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms as per the published schedule, adding that it expects the PCB to work towards a mutually acceptable solution that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders.
“Selective participation is not fair with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event,” the ICC said.
The ICC further noted that while it respects the role of governments in matters of national policy, the broader implications of such decisions could be damaging to the global cricket ecosystem and the welfare of fans worldwide, including those in Pakistan.
“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan,” the release stated.
The situation mirrors a recent episode involving Bangladesh, which had refused to play its scheduled matches in India citing security concerns. After extensive assessments and consultations, the ICC concluded that there was no credible or verifiable threat and declined to alter the tournament schedule.
Bangladesh was subsequently replaced by Scotland after failing to confirm participation within the stipulated timeframe. Scotland, currently ranked 14th in T20Is, earned entry into the tournament as the highest-ranked side outside the original qualification list.
The defending champions, India, have been placed in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, the United States, and Pakistan. India will begin their campaign against the USA on February 7, followed by a match on February 12, with uncertainty continuing to loom over the scheduled India–Pakistan fixture.
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