India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Clash: Boycott Sparks Knockout Stage Dilemma

• Pakistan will participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 but will boycott its group stage match against India on February 15 in Colombo.
• The decision follows an agreement that India and Pakistan would play at neutral venues for ICC tournaments hosted by either nation.
• Pakistan's boycott of the group stage match automatically grants India two points, complicating Pakistan's path to the knockout stage.
• The PCB has not clarified what will happen if India and Pakistan meet in the Super 12, semi-finals, or final.
• An India-Pakistan knockout match is crucial for ICC's commercial revenue; a boycott at this stage would lead to a major crisis.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's T20 World Cup boycott against India creates a complex scenario, especially for potential knockout encounters.