India to Travel to Sri Lanka Despite Pakistan’s Boycott of T20 World Cup Match
Despite Pakistan’s decision to boycott its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India, the Indian cricket team will still be required to travel to Sri Lanka as per the tournament schedule.
On Sunday, Pakistan announced that it will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but will not play its group-stage match against India scheduled for 15 February. The decision was taken after a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, during which an important decision regarding World Cup participation was made.
Following the meeting, the Government of Pakistan officially declared that Pakistan would compete in the T20 World Cup but would not face India. According to government sources, the move was influenced by what Pakistan views as the ICC’s biased decision related to Bangladesh, and Pakistan wanted to express solidarity with Bangladesh on the matter.
The Pakistan–India match was scheduled to take place on 15 February in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Under ICC rules, Pakistan’s boycott will result in the forfeiture of the match, costing Pakistan two points, which will be awarded to India.
However, in order to officially receive those two points, the Indian team must strictly follow ICC protocols. This includes traveling to the match venue, completing all scheduled preparations, and being present at the stadium on match day while awaiting Pakistan’s arrival.
According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian team will comply fully with ICC protocols. The team will practice in Sri Lanka on 15 February, attend the scheduled press conference, and arrive at the stadium on time.
Indian media reports state that under ICC regulations, if Pakistan does not take the field, the Indian team must wait for the match referee’s official decision to declare the match abandoned or forfeited. Only after this formal process will India be awarded the two points.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will begin on 7 February. Pakistan has been placed in a group alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States.
