New Delhi:
Former India captain and ex-BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has expressed surprise over Pakistan’s decision to boycott their highly anticipated clash against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The blockbuster Group A match was scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, but Pakistan’s withdrawal has sparked widespread debate in the cricketing world.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Ganguly questioned the rationale behind Pakistan’s move, especially given that the match was set to be played at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka.
“Backing out of a World Cup for what? They are playing in Sri Lanka, in any case. I am surprised Pakistan is backing out. In a World Cup, every point is important,” Ganguly said.
Pakistan’s Boycott Decision
Pakistan had earlier announced that it would not play against India in the tournament, citing solidarity with Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India for the competition. The move has drawn criticism and raised questions about the political and logistical implications surrounding the tournament.
India Ready to Play, Says Suryakumar Yadav
India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav had already made it clear that the Indian team was fully prepared to play the February 15 match in Colombo. Speaking during the Captains’ Media Briefing, he reiterated India’s stance and confirmed that the team was ready to travel.
“Our mindset is clear — we will play. Our flight is booked, and we are going. Rest, they can see for themselves. Their decision is not in my control,” Suryakumar said.
“We played the Asia Cup 2025 at a neutral venue. We are ready and going to Colombo. We have been told we have a game on 15th Feb.”
T20 World Cup 2026 Overview
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is being held from February 7 to March 8, with India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the tournament. India began their campaign against the USA on February 7 and are scheduled to play their second group match on February 12.
The defending champions India are placed in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, the USA, and Pakistan.
India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.