REFILE: Pakistan to boycott T20 World Cup match against India

VIDEO SHOWS: FILE OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN CRICKET TEAMS TRAINING/ FILE OF INDIA WINNING 2024 T20 WORLD CUP/ SCREENGRAB OF POST FROM PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT X ACCOUNT RESENDING TO INCLUDE POST FROM PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT X ACCOUNT (SHOT 1) SHOWS: INTERNET (FEBRUARY 1, 2026) (@GovtofPakistan – Access all) (MUTE) 1. POST TO OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN X ACCOUNT READING (English): "The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India." RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (FILE – FEBRUARY 26, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 2. VARIOUS OF PAKISTANI CRICKETERS RUNNING DURING WARM-UP SESSION 3. PAKISTAN FLAG FLUTTERING 4. VARIOUS OF PAKISTAN TEAM WARMING UP NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE – JUNE 8, 2024) (ICC – No use India/Social Media/Digital) 5. MOHAMMAD RIZWAN BATTING BATTING AT PRACTICE SESSION 6. NASEEM SHAH BOWLING 7. VARIOUS OF RIZWAN BATTING 8. NET PRACTICE ONGOING BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (FILE – JUNE 29, 2024) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 9. VARIOUS STILL PHOTOS OF INDIA LIFTING THE TROPHY AFTER BEATING SOUTH AFRICA BY SEVEN RUNS IN THE ICC T20 CRICKET WORLD CUP FINAL MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (FILE – JULY 4, 2024) (ANI – No use India) 10. VARIOUS OF INDIA'S OPEN-TOP BUS PARADE WITH TROPHY AFTER WINNING T20 WORLD CUP NEW DELHI, INDIA (FILE – JULY 4, 2024) (PMO – No use India) (MUTE) 11. T20 WORLD CUP TROPHY 12. VARIOUS OF INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH INDIAN CRICKET TEAM AND T20 WORLD CUP LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE – JULY 30, 2025) (NICHE MEDIA – Access all) 13. INDIA CRICKET HEAD COACH, GAUTAM GAMBHIR (GLASSES ON TOP OF CAP), WITH COACHING STAFF AT PRACRICE SESSION 14. PLAYERS GOING THROUGH FIELDING DRILL 15. BOWLERS GOING THROUGH BOWLING DRILL 16. GAMBHIR WITH MEMBER OF COACHING STAFF 17. RAVINDRA JADEJA BOWLING TO OPENING BATSMAN, YASHASVI JAISWAL 18. WICKETKEEPER-BATSMAN, KL RAHUL, CHATTING WITH SHUBMAN GILL AHEAD OF NETS BATTING SESSION 19. VARIOUS OF GILL AND RAHUL BATTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN NETS DUBAI, UAE (FILE – SEPTEMBER 18, 2025) (ANI – Broadcast: No use India. Digital: Digital rights only for accredited BCCI and ACC media, no use social media) 20. INDIA T20 CRICKET TEAM CAPTAIN SURYAKUMAR YADAV WALKING PAST DURING TRAINING BEFORE BEGINNING TO JOG 21. BATSMAN WALKING OUT TO BAT DURING INDIA PRACTICE SESSION  22. SPIN BOWLER KULDEEP YADAV WALKING 23. ALL ROUNDER AXAR PATEL STANDING 24. BATSMAN HITTING A PULL SHOT 25. PRACTICE SESSION UNDERWAY  26. BATSMEN DURING NETS SESSION  27. FAST BOWLER ARSHDEEP SINGH GOING THROUGH FIELDING PRACTICE, CATCHING & THROWING BALL 28. BATSMAN HITTING SHOT IN NETS  29. KULDEEP YADAV BOWLING   STORY: Pakistan will boycott their February 15 match of the Twenty20 World Cup against arch-rivals India in Colombo, the Pakistan government said on Sunday (February 1) while approving the team's participation in the global showpiece. "The government… grants approval to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India," the post on the government's official X account said without elaborating on reasons behind the decision. Pakistan, who are scheduled to play all their matches in Sri Lanka, would forfeit two points if they boycotted the India match. There was no clarity on what would happen should the neighbours meet in a knockout game. Bilateral cricket remains suspended between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a military conflict that nearly snowballed into a fully-fledged war last year. Their fraught political relations prompted the governing International Cricket Council (ICC) to broker an arrangement allowing them to play at a neutral venue when their neighbour hosts a global tournament. The 2009 champions had earlier announced their squad for the 20-team tournament beginning on February 7, maintaining that their participation was subject to government approval. Their decision to boycott the India match is a serious blow to the tournament because an India-Pakistan clash remains cricket's greatest blockbuster, which is why they are clubbed together in the same group in ICC events. The ICC said it was awaiting an official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) conveying their "position of selective participation". "While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan," the Dubai-based body said in a statement. "The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of." The governing body said a successful tournament was its priority, while sounding an optimistic note. "The ICC's priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup which should also be the responsibility of all its members including the PCB," it said. "It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders." This is not the first example of geopolitical tension affecting the tournament. Bangladesh have been replaced by Scotland in the global showpiece following their refusal to travel to India over safety concerns. The latest setback is a continuation of the soured India-Pakistan relations which manifested in last year's Asia Cup in Dubai. India beat Pakistan three times in the tournament, including in the September 28 final, but declined to shake hands with their opponents and refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister.  (Production: Conal Quinn)

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