BCCI Addresses Pakistan's Boycott Threat for 2026 T20 World Cup

Finally, Rajeev Shukla, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s vice-president, reacted to the looming threat of a Pakistan boycott of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Notably, the boycott threat by Pakistan is over the Indian team’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025, which is slated to take place in Pakistan. While speaking at the Uttar Pradesh Premier League players’ auction, Shukla said that the BCCI is awaiting approval from the government to travel to Pakistan.

Shukla said, “Pakistan can say whatever they want about the 2026 T20 World Cup.” He went on to add that any decision about India’s visit to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy would be based on permission from the government.

“Pakistan can say whatever it wants about coming to India during the 2026 World Cup, but we are only waiting for the approval of the Indian government [to participate in the Champions Trophy],” Shukla said.

Another senior BCCI official explained,

He also said that a visit to any foreign country needs permission from the government, which has not been quite positive so far after discussions with the Indian government. There were speculations of some neutral venue or any other plans for the event, but the PCB has still stood rigid about holding the Champions Trophy 2025 in its entirety in Pakistan. The proposed venues are Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, while all matches for India are scheduled in Lahore.

BCCI not sure about visiting Pakistan for CT25 despite Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 Boycott threat

“Of course, we expect retaliation. If we don’t travel to Pakistan, they will threaten to boycott the Asia Cup. But PCB should understand that it’s not in BCCI’s hands. Sending a team to a foreign country requires the government of India’s permission. So far, we have had dialogues regarding Champions Trophy. But we haven’t had any positive outcomes.”

While all teams, barring India, have played in Pakistan at some point or the other, the PCB feels that India does not have any strong reason not to come and play. The Champions Trophy is slated from February 19 to March 9, 2025, and will be the first such event since the last one in 2017, which Pakistan won against India in the final.

Discussions therefore will go a long way toward deciding the future course of cricketing relations between India and Pakistan, which continues to be geopolitical in nature.