India National Cricket Team vs Pakistan National Cricket Team: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026 is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in the first quarter of the year. According to a report by PTI, it is anticipated that the 2024 T20 World Cup champions, India, and their arch-rivals, Pakistan, will likely not be placed in the same group for this tournament.
The future of India-Pakistan cricket matches at ICC events is reportedly a key topic for discussion at the sport’s governing body’s annual conference. This conference is slated to take place in Singapore from July 17th to 20th.
“The issue is bound to come up for discussion at the annual conference. While the prospect of India and Pakistan not playing in ICC knockouts is unlikely, not drawing them in the same group, which has been the norm at ICC events, is a possibility," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI.
India and Pakistan drawn in the same group of ICC events had become a given over the past decade but in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and subsequent showdown between the two armed forces, that could change.
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It is no secret that the BCCI holds the maximum clout in world cricket and even the ICC is headed by an Indian, Jay Shah.
Ahead of the Champions Trophy won by India earlier this year, PCB, BCCI and ICC had agreed to a hybrid model for Indo-Pak contests till 2027. It remains to be seen if two nations play each other in 2025 Women's World Cup scheduled in India later this year.
The BCCI has a clear stance on the subject: it goes by Indian government's view and that is unlikely to change in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 tourists on basis of their religion. India holds Pakistan responsible for massacre.