According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), no cricketing board in the world is allowed to let government directives interfere with team decisions, and any such influence that leads to the boycotts or selective participation can result in investigations, fines, or other disciplinary measures.
The Government of Pakistan, rather than the Pakistan Cricket Board, confirmed the national team’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026, but stated that the side would not play against India, highlighting the direct government influence in the board’s decisions. In this case, the ICC could be viewed as a breach of regulations regarding government interference, potentially triggering this as sanctions and financial penalties.
Though the team remains in the 20-team competition, the decision to skip their clash against the defending champions, India, has drawn global scrutiny, given the T20 World Cup is less than a week away, and could influence the ICC’s final decision on possible sanctions.