Cricket analyst Dr. Nauman Niaz has praised Pakistan’s decision to skip its match against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, calling it a strong and strategic move that could benefit the national team both now and in the future. Speaking on ARY News programme Sawal Yeh Hai, Dr. Niaz highlighted the longstanding challenges in Pakistan-India cricket relations, noting that India has not played a bilateral series with Pakistan in 18 years. He emphasized that the India-Pakistan fixture is traditionally the most high-profile and revenue-generating match in any ICC tournament, with even short highlights generating more revenue than many other matches combined.
Dr. Niaz pointed out that India’s dominant position in the ICC has historically sidelined other boards and that past controversies, including incidents involving Sachin Tendulkar in 2002 and 2006, reinforced India’s reluctance to play Pakistan. From a strategic perspective, he explained that Pakistan’s decision safeguards national interests while remaining legally and diplomatically justified, and could strengthen the team’s position in future events, including potential tours to India in 2027. He concluded that the move reflects a careful balance between sporting integrity, national policy, and financial considerations.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif met with Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore to discuss the team’s participation in the T20 World Cup. Following the meeting, the government approved Pakistan’s participation in the tournament but decided that the team would not play its scheduled match against India on February 15, 2026. The discussions addressed security, scheduling, and diplomatic concerns, ensuring that Pakistan remains committed to international cricket while following national policy. An official government spokesperson confirmed that Pakistan will compete in the World Cup but will refrain from facing India.
