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India-Pakistan cricket in limboImage Credit source: Getty Images

India-Pakistan cricket once again seems to be derailing. Bilateral cricket between the two countries has already stopped and both the teams are playing only in ICC-ACC tournaments. But now that situation also seems to be changing. The Pakistan government has worsened the situation by announcing a boycott of the match against India in the T20 World Cup 2026. Due to this, the question has arisen whether this boycott of Pakistan will last only till this World Cup or will PCB adopt the same attitude in future also? And will India also refuse to play with Pakistan in response?

Even in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, India and Pakistan were placed in the same group, as was happening in every tournament for the last one and a half decade. But this time, even before the match to be held on 15th February, Pakistan refused to field its team in this match. Pakistan has taken this step in support of Bangladesh, which had refused to play in India due to the controversy surrounding Mustafizur Rahman and then was out of the tournament.

But this step of Pakistan seems certain to have an impact on the cricket future of both the countries. Especially now the question is being raised whether this boycott of Pakistan will last only till this World Cup match or will it affect the upcoming matches also? If Pakistan does not change its decision and the current situation continues, then 3 India-Pakistan matches may be canceled this year.

Yes, excluding the Under-19 World Cup, at least 3 matches are to be played between India and Pakistan this year. Not only will India and Pakistan face each other in the T20 World Cup on February 15, but the women's teams of India and Pakistan will also face each other on the same day in Bangkok. This match is to be played in the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026, where India and Pakistan are in the same group. After this, India and Pakistan are in the same group in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 to be held in England and Wales in June and there will be a clash between the two on June 14. In the current situation, the future of these matches also seems to be in limbo.

However, there is another aspect to it also. If the situation does not worsen from here, then it is possible that this boycott of Pakistan will last only till this T20 World Cup. This is because Pakistan alleges that Bangladesh was wrongly excluded from this World Cup and hence PCB took this step in their support. At present, there is no threat to Bangladesh's place in the Asia Cup and then in the Women's T20 World Cup. Therefore, she will not boycott these two tournaments. But this can only be the thinking of Pakistan because it has directly challenged the authority of ICC here and if it does not withdraw the decision, then ICC can take strict action and the remaining matches can also be cancelled.