Cricket Kitchen

Pakistan to Seek Government Approval for Possible T20 Match Against India

February 6, 2026

 

Kathmandu – Pakistan will seek approval from its government before playing a potential T20 match against arch-rivals India, captain Salman Agha clarified on Thursday, should the team reach the knockout stage of the T20 World Cup.

The tournament has been affected by political controversy after Bangladesh refused to play in India citing security concerns, and Pakistan declined to face co-host India in their Group A match. However, the possibility of the two neighboring countries meeting in the semifinal or final still remains.

“Playing India is not in our control. It is a government decision, and if we are required to play India in the semifinal or final, we will proceed according to the government’s advice,” Agha told journalists in Colombo.

Pakistan had supported Bangladesh’s request to move matches to Sri Lanka. The Islamabad government had earlier instructed the national team not to play the group-stage match against India scheduled for February 15. Agha said, “It’s unfortunate that Bangladesh is not here. We hope they will support us.”

Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade and now meet only in multinational tournaments. In the group stage, Pakistan will face Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States. “We were disappointed after losing to the USA in the last World Cup, and now we will try to correct that,” Agha said.

If Pakistan forfeits a match against India, it would not only lose two points but could also suffer in terms of net run rate. Losing a group match due to bad weather could further complicate qualification. However, Agha said, “We understand the margin for error, but we cannot control the circumstances. We are here to play good cricket and will not be affected by the situation.”

Pakistan last won a title in 2009, defeating Australia 3–0 at home. Agha added, “We haven’t lost a series since last year’s Asia Cup. Everything is going well, and we are confident of doing even better.”

All of Pakistan’s matches will be played in Sri Lanka, where the team toured in January and gained experience of the conditions. “I’m very happy to be playing in Sri Lanka—it feels like a second home for me. This is my sixth visit, and we have received tremendous support,” Agha said.