Former India fast bowler Ishant Sharma feels the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match is not good for the players. The Pakistan government has denied its players permission to participate in the match against India scheduled to be played on February 15 in Colombo.
However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to receive official confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the boycott. Amid this controversy, Ishant Sharma spoke about the mental challenges the players face while preparing for such an important match in very uncertain circumstances.
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“Yes, it’s not good for the players. The players should be informed whether this match is happening or not. Whatever the situation is, they should be told because the players are preparing for the match accordingly. And the India-Pakistan match is one that every fan is watching. So the players should actually be clearly informed so that they are going to play this match or not,” Issashant’ said in India today.
Former Indian seamer Mohit Sharma also sympathized with the players, stating that the situation had gone far beyond their control and criticized the mixing of sports with off-field issues.
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“But sport is a game and these things have really gotten way out of our control now. They’re out of our hands. So anything we say about it could end up being controversial, but I don’t think there should be so much trouble around sport. Let it be. Some things are out of our control and you can’t control them – even, you know, you really say, sometimes it feels like you can do anything when you talk about it, Sharma.”
Meanwhile, amid the boycott of Pakistan, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team is ready to play against Pakistan and will travel to Sri Lanka as scheduled to participate in the tournament. With just three days to go until the start of the competition, the future of the high-profile tournament remains in jeopardy. However, the ICC has warned Pakistan of dire consequences if it continues its boycott.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 5, 2026
