Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Pakistan will stand by its decision not to play India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, expressing confidence that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will eventually change its stance. The much-awaited clash between the two arch rivals is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
The Pakistan government granted permission for the national team to travel to Sri Lanka to take part in the 20-team tournament, but also announced that the side would not take the field against India, raising uncertainty over the marquee match.
But Ashwin is confident that the situation will be resolved, he stated Pakistan would otherwise face significant opposition from broadcasters and other ICC member countries. He also mentioned that players may also be denied NOC participation in the Pakistan Super League.
“The match will happen 100 per cent. I think Pakistan will back down in the next four to five days. I want to see that encounter too. They may face financial losses. The broadcasters will lose a lot of money, so there has to be a compromise. All members will face losses and in the ICC meeting they will say that we are facing these losses because of Pakistan,” Ashwin said on his PSL channel, players may not get NOC on YouTube.
Ashwin also mentioned that the refusal to play against a particular opponent was “unacceptable” and hoped that the PCB would reconsider its stance.
“Pakistan and India will be playing at a neutral ground, so the question of venue is not there. To say I will not play against a particular opponent is unacceptable. I hope better sense will prevail and these matches will be played,” Ashwin said.
When will Pakistan start their campaign?
Ahead of the tournament, the two teams will also feature in warm-up matches on Wednesday, February 4, with India facing South Africa and Pakistan facing Ireland. However, Ashwin warned against underestimating Pakistan in the tournament, citing their recent form and 3-0 series win over Australia.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they go the distance. Pakistan’s biggest enemy is itself. It’s all about their mindset. If you tell them you can’t lose against India, then that would be a big problem,” concluded Ashwin.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a statement warning the PCB of dire consequences and urging it to consider the “long-term” consequences of refusing to play the match against India. The PCB is yet to formally communicate its decision to the ICC and as a result the dispute between the two sides is expected to continue in the near future
India and Pakistan were drawn into Group A of the tournament along with Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA. Both teams will begin their World Cup campaign on opening day, February 7.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 3, 2026
