New Delhi: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ehsan Mani has claimed the International Cricket Council (ICC) cannot impose any sanctions against Pakistan for boycotting their match against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan have decided to forfeit their group-stage match against India at the direction of the country’s government.
The move, which many feel is politically motivated, is viewed as a mark of protest from Pakistan against the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament. Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2026 after refusing to travel to India for their matches, citing security reasons.
Pakistan, who are not travelling to India, will play all their matches in Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2026. They are scheduled to face India in a much-anticipated clash in Colombo on February 15. However, the clash remains uncertain after the Pakistan government’s latest announcement.
ICC reacted strongly after the Pakistan government announced the decision on social media on Sunday. The world governing body urged PCB to find a mutually acceptable resolution, while stating that the boycott can lead to significant and long-term implications for Pakistan cricket.
However, ex-PCB chief Mani has said ICC cannot take any action against Pakistan as they are following government orders. Mani cited the example of India, who refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy last year on the government’s instructions.
“There can’t be any sanctions against Pakistan if it follows the government instructions. That was the basis on which India refused to play its 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. You can’t have double standards. So, unfortunately, again I come back to the fact that instead of dealing with the problem, the ICC just stood there as a bystander,” Mani was quoted as saying by Sportstar.
“You left the door open for any country to get its government involved. And especially knowing that the chairman of the PCB is a serving minister of the government,” he added.
However, it is worth mentioning that India refused to travel to Pakistan, citing security reasons, having not played in Pakistan since 2008 due to the political tensions between the two countries. BCCI had always maintained that stance that they would not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. On the other hand, PCB had no problems playing their match against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 before Bangladesh were replaced from the tournament.
PCB set to ignore ICC’s warning, will follow govt’s orders
Meanwhile, as per a report in the news agency PTI, the Pakistan Cricket Board is set to ignore ICC’s warning and will go ahead with the India match boycott in the T20 World Cup 2026. The PCB will follow Pakistan’s government’s instructions if they meet India again in the knockout stage of the tournament. A PCB source claimed the board has no choice but to follow the government’s orders.
“The board has also been notified by the government that the national team will not play against India on 15th February and forfeit points in the World Cup. As for the scenario where Pakistan might be required to play against India in the knockout stages, the board will follow any decision taken by the government at that time as well,” a PCB source was quoted as saying by PTI.