Pakistan boycott India T20 World Cup match Updates: Sri Lanka nudge PCB rethink; Suryakumar confirms Colombo plan

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: SLC wrote a letter to the PCB, requesting the board to reconsider their decision to boycott the match against India. In the letter, Sri Lanka highlighted the significant losses resulting from Pakistan’s decision. With all arrangements for the marquee game in place, large-scale hotel cancellations have impacted Colombo’s tourism sector. The letter also recalls Sri Lanka’s past support to Pakistan.

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, on Thursday, reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's statement, said that the board will go with whatever the International Cricket Council (ICC) decides. Shukla said to ANI, "BCCI has nothing to say on this (on Shehbaz's statement). ICC has to decide on this, and whatever ICC says, we will go according to that decision..."

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: Buzz around BCB and PCB having colluded against triggered after Bangladesh' sports adviser sent a ‘Thank you’ note to Pakistan a day after Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that the Salman-led side will not take the field against India. “Thank you, Pakistan,” Asif Nazrul wrote on Facebook. “Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his country has decided to boycott the match against India in protest of Bangladesh being excluded from the T20 World Cup.”

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: Ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed disappointment over Bangladesh’s absence from the tournament, while also thanking Bangladesh cricket supporters for backing Pakistan. “Well, they are our brothers. Thank you very much to them for supporting us. I would say they can support us in the tournament as well. It’s really sad to not see them playing the World Cup. But thank you so much for the support, and hopefully they can continue backing us in the tournament,” Agha said.

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha confirmed that in case the team faces India in a knockout game, they will have to take permission from the government to play the match.

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: The Pakistan captain had nothing new to add to his earlier comment on the India matter, which came right after Pakistan government had put out that social media post last Sunday. He said that the players have no option but to follow the government's directive.

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: Speaking in a press conference, India captain Suryakumar Yadav broke his silence on the ongoing issue. He said, “Mindset is clear... humne mana nahi kiya khelne kie liye. Udhar se mana kiya hai. ICC ne fixture diya hai, government ne decide kiya hai neutral venue. Humari flight book hai Colombo ki, hum to jaa rahe hai. Baaki dekh lege. (We haven’t said no to playing them (Pakistan), they are the ones who’ve said no. Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.)"

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: Speaking to ANI, BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla spoke about Pakistan's boycott of their upcoming T20 World Cup fixture vs India. He said, "BCCI has nothing to say on this. ICC has to decide on this, and whatever ICC says, we will go according to that decision..."

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: While Pakistan have announced their desire to boycott and thereby forfeit the match to be played against India in Colombo, it won't be that simple for India. Suryakumar Yadav's team will still have to be present at the stadium in Colombo to be on the receiving end of the points from the forfeit. Pakistan themselves will already be in the city. All in all, this doesn't affect things too much logistically – more or less just a symbolic protest.

Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026, LIVE Updates: With both parties quietly working behind the scenes to prepare for a potential battle in front of the DRC or even potentially the CAS, the legal tricks and loopholes at their disposal will be studied and attempted to be blocked by one another. Take a look at one of these – the MPA clause.

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