T20 Men's World Cup 2026: India-Pakistan fixture decision lies with ICC, says BCCI vice president

The fate of the highly anticipated India–Pakistan group-stage clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 rests entirely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), according to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Rajeev Shukla.

Speaking on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by India head coach Gautam Gambhir at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday (8), Shukla made it clear that the BCCI would abide by the global governing body’s decision regarding the fixture.

“We have left everything to the ICC. We will follow whatever decision the ICC takes,” Shukla said, addressing growing speculation surrounding the match.

His comments come days after Pakistan announced that it would not play its scheduled group-stage match against India on February 15 in Colombo. The development has added uncertainty to one of the most high-profile fixtures in international cricket, traditionally among the most watched games in any ICC tournament.

The announcement has sparked reactions from former players and administrators. Former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly described Pakistan’s decision as “surprising,” emphasizing the competitive stakes of a World Cup tournament.

“Backing out of a World Cup for what? They are playing in Sri Lanka anyway,” Ganguly said in New Delhi. “In a World Cup, every point is important.” His remarks underscored the significance of the fixture not only from a sporting standpoint but also in terms of tournament standings, where each group-stage match can be decisive.

On the field, India have begun their title defense in strong fashion. They opened their campaign with a 29-run victory over the United States at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, India posted 161 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with an unbeaten 84 off 49 deliveries, anchoring the innings under pressure.

In response, the United States were restricted to 132 for 8. India’s bowling attack delivered a disciplined performance, with Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh contributing key wickets to seal the win.

India will now look to build momentum when they face Namibia in Delhi on Thursday, aiming to strengthen their position in the group standings amid the uncertainty surrounding the Pakistan fixture.

The Indian squad for the tournament features a mix of experience and youth. The team is led by Suryakumar Yadav and includes Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Rinku Singh.

With tensions surrounding the India–Pakistan match unresolved, the cricketing world now awaits the ICC’s decision on how the situation will be addressed in the tournament schedule.