From Balochistan to Bangladesh: Pakistan Announces Boycott of World Cup Match Against India
📍 Lahore, Pakistan | 3 February 2026 | The Global Journal
The Pakistan government has announced that it will boycott its scheduled match against India in the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup, although it will participate in the rest of the tournament. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has blamed India for recent attacks in Balochistan.
Pakistan has not explicitly stated the reason for withdrawing from the match against India, which was scheduled for February 15. However, on Saturday, Naqvi accused India of being behind attacks in Balochistan, in which at least 31 civilians, 17 security personnel, and 145 fighters were killed.
What happened in Balochistan?
On Saturday morning, armed men carried out coordinated attacks on police stations in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. These attacks were the deadliest in decades in the province, killing nearly 200 people, most of them fighters.
Pakistan has long been battling a separatist movement in Balochistan, where militants have targeted state forces, foreign nationals, and residents from other parts of the country. The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attacks.
The BLA stated that it targeted military installations, police, and civil administration officials through gun attacks and suicide bombings in nine districts of Balochistan. On the same day, Naqvi, speaking with the province’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, accused India of orchestrating the attacks, saying,
“These were not ordinary terrorists. India planned these attacks.” (without providing evidence)
Was there already tension surrounding the World Cup?
Yes. On January 24, the International Cricket Council (ICC) removed Bangladesh from the tournament, replacing it with Scotland, after Dhaka refused to play its matches in India.
Bangladesh cited security concerns, but the ICC stated that there was no “credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team in India.”
This year’s tournament marks the first time Bangladesh will miss a men’s T20 World Cup.
When Bangladesh was unable to play in Sri Lanka, Naqvi criticized the ICC for applying “double standards.” In the past, the ICC allowed India to avoid playing in Pakistan when Pakistan hosted tournaments, instead holding those games in third countries. Pakistan has now received similar treatment.
Naqvi said,
“You cannot have double standards. One country [India] can do whatever it wants, while others are forced to do the opposite. That is why we have taken this stance and made it clear that Bangladesh was treated unjustly. They should be allowed to play in the World Cup.”
Implications for Pakistan
By boycotting the match against India, Pakistan will forfeit 2 points in the group stage, which will be awarded to India. This leaves Pakistan with less room for error and means they must win more of their remaining matches.
An emergency ICC board meeting may be convened, with possible suspension due to government interference. Direct government involvement makes strict action against Pakistan likely.
Impact on the World Cup
The India-Pakistan match was expected to be the most-watched game of the tournament. Its cancellation will result in millions of lost viewers and reduced broadcasting revenue.
In the 2021 T20 World Cup, the India-Pakistan match drew 167 million viewers, making it the most-watched T20 international in history.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket since 2012 and face each other only in multinational tournaments.
Experts suggest establishing emergency communication channels and conflict-resolution protocols via the ICC to ensure future tournaments remain politically neutral and focused on fair play.
