Pakistan to Boycott T20 World Cup Match Against India: Fifth Instance of Walkover

• Pakistan government approved its men's cricket team to compete in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 but prohibited them from playing against India on February 15 in Colombo.
• This potential boycott would mark the fifth instance of an international cricket team not playing a World Cup match.
• Previous boycotts include Australia and West Indies refusing to play in Sri Lanka during the 1996 World Cup due to security concerns after a terrorist attack in Colombo.
• In the 2003 World Cup, England boycotted their match against Zimbabwe due to political turmoil under Robert Mugabe's regime, leading to Zimbabwe being awarded a walkover.
• Also in 2003, New Zealand declined to play their match against Kenya due to security issues, resulting in Kenya receiving the match points and advancing to the semifinals.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's government has barred its team from playing India in the 2026 T20 World Cup, marking a rare boycott.