- By Himanshu Badola
- Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan have reached Sri Lanka to participate in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, as a few of their players, including skipper Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam and coach Mike Hesson, were seen at the Colombo Airport. The T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Pakistan will be captained by Salman Ali Agha in the 10th edition of the T20 WC, and they are placed in group A alongside arch-rivals India, the Netherlands, the USA and Namibia. While Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, they will kick off their campaign with the match against the Netherlands on the opening day of the tournament at the R.Premadasa Stadium. They touched down in Sri Lanka on Monday, with the Australian team, a day after clinching a series win against the Men in Yellow.
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Pakistan registered a 111-run victory in the third and final T20I match against Australia in Lahore to complete a 3-0 whitewash. This was an incredible result in their final assignment, a preparatory series, ahead of the T20 World Cup. However, their participation in the marquee tournament still remains uncertain, especially after their government made an announcement to boycott their much-awaited clash against India on February 15.
The statement did not specify a reason for that decision. The full post on X was as follows: "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." Interestingly, the PCB is yet to write to the ICC informing them of the boycott, but reports from the sources within the board have claimed that they will act according to the government's decision.
The India-Pakistan fixture is by far the most lucrative - and usually most-watched - game of any ICC tournament. The ICC issued a statement as their first reaction just three hours after the Pakistan government's announcement, saying it "hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of."
Just before leaving for Sri Lanka, Pakistan's captain Salman Ali Agha said that the players are contracted with the PCB and they will follow their government, and the board decide at the end.