Pakistan ordered NOT TO play against India despite dropping boycott plans for T20 World Cup 2026
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Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has dropped a fresh opinion on their participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. He has suggested that Pakistan should consider not playing against India, even if they do not boycott the tournament.
Pakistan were the sole supporter of the BCB in their stand against India and the ICC. When Bangladesh asked for a neutral venue, citing security concerns in India, Pakistan not only supported them but even offered to host their matches.
However, Mohsin Naqvi had a meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister on the 26th of January. This was a clear indication that the board was to take a principled stance against the latest developments; however, the formal boycott announcement did not materialise.
Rashid Latif calls for boycotting matches against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has called for the boycott of India vs Pakistan games in the near future. He thinks that Pakistan have closed the window for a boycott of the tournament, and what can be done in this situation is refusing to play matches against India.
“If the government says we won’t play against India, the ICC will have to accept it,” Latif said, as quoted by the Indian Express. “If they don’t, that’s where the real confrontation begins.” When the host asked what would happen if India and Pakistan reached the final, then Latif said, “nahi khelenge’ (we won’t play (in that protest plan)).”
Rashid Latif has not even stepped back from advising the Pakistan government to withdraw from the final of the ICC T20 World Cup if they qualify alongside India for the marquee tournament. Pakistan's last T20 World Cup final came in 2022, when they lost to England.
“We showed our support. We voted for them. That chapter is over,” said Latif on backing the BCB
The former wicket-keeper batter had previously advocated for a boycott, as that would have led to the exposure of India's dominance over global cricket governance. He felt that if the Pakistan government had such plans, then the action should have been taken immediately after Bangladesh's withdrawal.
“The time for a strike has passed,” Latif said on the YouTube channel CaughtBehind. “Every decision has a timing. When the iron is hot, that’s when you strike. That time was last week during the ICC meeting.”
Bangladesh were replaced by the ICC after they had received 14 votes against their participation in the World Cup. Scotland were brought in as their replacement and placed in Group B.
“We showed our support. We voted for them. That chapter is over,” he said. “If we boycott now, it won’t have the same impact.”
Pakistan to play in Sri Lanka
Pakistan will start their T20 World Cup campaign from 7th of February. The matches will be hosted entirely in Sri Lanka, according to a treaty that was signed between India and Pakistan to play their games at a neutral venue.
Pakistan, who are placed alongside India in Group A, will hence have a hybrid model for matches. The ICC T20 World Cup knockout games, including the final, will be played in Sri Lanka if it involves Pakistan.
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India National Cricket Team Pakistan National Cricket Team ICC T20 World Cup PCB BCCI ICC India vs Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi BCB Rashid LatifAbout the Author
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