Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly confirmed that the country’s national cricket team will not play against India in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, describing the move as a “thoughtful decision” taken in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, Mr Sharif said the government had carefully considered its position before deciding to boycott the high-profile fixture. He added that sport should remain free from political influence, even as Pakistan chose to stand by Bangladesh.
“We have taken a very clear position on the T20 World Cup; we will not play the match against India,” the prime minister told cabinet members. “This decision was taken after much thought. We should fully stand by Bangladesh, and I believe this is an appropriate decision.”
It marks the first time Pakistan’s government has openly explained the rationale behind the boycott, which was initially announced through social media last week without detailed justification.
The decision follows a growing diplomatic and sporting dispute triggered by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) move to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament.
Bangladesh had earlier declined to send its national team to India, citing security concerns after reported threats from communal groups. The situation intensified after Bangladesh pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League on 3 January, a development Dhaka linked to safety fears.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had formally requested a change of venue to Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected the proposal, describing the threats against Mustafizur as “isolated incidents”.
Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, later said that neither the ICC nor the Indian government had provided sufficient security assurances to address the concerns raised by Dhaka.
The boycott adds a new layer of tension to an already politically sensitive tournament and raises questions about how international cricket’s governing bodies handle security and diplomatic disputes involving major member nations.
