Politics behind Pakistan’s boycott of India T20 World Cup game, experts say

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Hafsa AdilFebruary 2, 2026 at 02:41 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Pakistan has decided to boycott their T20 World Cup match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, citing ongoing political tensions. The decision has drawn criticism from the ICC, who urged Pakistan to reconsider, and support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Experts attribute the boycott to the long-standing political rift between the two nations, stemming from the 1947 partition and disputes over Kashmir. Former cricketers and politicians are calling on the ICC to mediate and resolve the dispute between the cricket boards. The ICC has expressed concern over Pakistan's "selective participation" in the tournament.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

British 30% Colombo 30% Sri Lanka 40% Rajeev Shukla 50% Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ×260% Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) 60% International Cricket Council (ICC) ×780% ICC Men's T20 World Cup ×280% Pakistan ×1090% India ×990%

Keywords

cricket boycott 90% india pakistan relations 80% t20 world cup 70% political dispute 70% icc 60% cricket diplomacy 50% sportsmanship 50% regional crisis 40%