Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav dismissed Pakistan’s boycott of their 2026 T20 World Cup opener against India, asserting the team’s flights are confirmed for Colombo. During Thursday’s pre-tournament presser, he made it clear: India is game to play, but Pakistan has chosen otherwise.
Scheduled for February 15 at Colombo’s iconic R. Premadasa Stadium, the match pits Group A contenders India and Pakistan, with Namibia, Netherlands, and USA also in the mix. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, assigns all Pakistan games to neutral Sri Lankan soil, yet government orders have led to this refusal.
Yadav addressed the media head-on: ‘No refusal from our side to play them – that’s coming from the other end. Everything is straightforward. ICC schedule is out, neutral venue locked in with BCCI and authorities. Flights booked to Colombo; we’re heading there post our February 7 game. Team’s on the same page.’
The decision echoes recent ICC moves, like sidelining Bangladesh for Scotland over India security issues. Pakistan’s leadership doubled down mid-week, confirming no India matchup. ICC voiced alarm at this ‘selective participation,’ underlining equal competition as a cornerstone of international cricket.
With stakes sky-high in this perennial rivalry, Yadav’s poised rebuttal underscores India’s focus on performance amid geopolitical friction. As preparations intensify, the cricket fraternity ponders if cooler heads will prevail or if fans will be robbed of a marquee showdown.
