Former India captain Kapil Dev has strongly warned Pakistan against their decision to boycott the group stage clash against India in the T20 World Cup 2026, saying the move will end up damaging Pakistan cricket more than anyone else.
Kapil said Pakistan’s call to skip the February 15 match against India will damage the country’s reputation and harming their own players, especially the youth aspiring to play on the world stage. Speaking to NDTV, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain emphasized that such decisions at the board level have long-term consequences that the players are forced to bear.
“If the decision has been taken by the players, they can come and say that. But when the board decides you won’t play, the reputation of the country goes down,” Kapil Dev said. “It doesn’t look good for Pakistan. You are killing a generation. Pakistan has given us fantastic talent over the years, but if you don’t allow these boys to play in the World Cup, you are hurting the game and being unfair to your own players.”
Can Pakistan Boycott India T20 World Cup Match?
Pakistan announced on Sunday that while it will participate in the T20 World Cup, will not take the field against India in Colombo. The decision followed the ICC rejecting Bangladesh’s request to move their World Cup matches from India due to security concerns, after which Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.
Kapil also pointed out that while the boycott may initially create emotional reactions, the global cricket audience will eventually move on, leaving Pakistan isolated.
“Emotions and viewers will be affected, but in the long run nobody will overlook them. People will move on,” he said.
The ICC has already expressed concern over Pakistan’s stance and urged the PCB to reconsider, highlighting the potential long-term damage to the sport. According to the rules of the tournament, both teams must be present at the draw to avoid going overboard. Sources suggest that India will travel to Colombo as scheduled, with captain Suryakumar Yadav expected to feature in the toss. If Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha does not turn up, India could get two points, although further disciplinary action remains uncertain.
Apart from the sporting implications, the financial cost could be significant. The switch to the India-Pakistan clash, world cricket’s most commercially valuable fixture, could reportedly result in advertising losses of up to Rs 250 crore for the host broadcaster.
However, for Kapil Dev, the biggest loss would be unprecedented. In attempting to make a political statement, Pakistan risks sidelining its own cricketers and bringing back a generation that deserves exposure on cricket’s biggest stage.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 4, 2026