Rajeev Shukla Says BCCI Will Not Comment Until Talks With ICC Are Held: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given its first official reaction after Pakistan decided not to play against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match.
BCCI vice-president and Congress MP Rajeev Shukla made it clear that the Indian board fully agrees with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the matter and will wait for direct discussions before taking any further step.
The much-awaited India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for 15 February 2026 in Colombo, but Pakistan has announced that its team will not take the field for this fixture.
What Rajeev Shukla Said on Pakistan’s Decision
Speaking on the issue, Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the BCCI stands firmly with the ICC’s views on sportsmanship and fairness.
He stated that the ICC has already issued a strong statement highlighting the importance of sportsmanship in global tournaments. According to him, the BCCI fully agrees with this stand and will not make any additional comments until formal discussions are held with the ICC.
This response shows that the Indian board does not want to act independently and prefers to follow the tournament’s governing body and its established protocols.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Pakistan to boycott its match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, BCCI vice president and Congress MP Rajeev Shukla says, "ICC has issued a big statement, they have spoken about sportsmanship. We completely agree with the ICC. BCCI won't make any… pic.twitter.com/qRgwHzgDls
— ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2026
Pakistan Stand on the India Match
The Pakistan government has cleared its team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 but has placed a condition that the team will not play against India in the group stage.
An official statement from Pakistan said that while the team will participate in the tournament, it will not take the field for the match scheduled on 15 February 2026 against India. No specific reason was mentioned for this decision.
Pakistan will still play all its remaining group matches in the tournament.
ICC Position on Selective Participation
Following Pakistan’s announcement, the ICC responded strongly and made its position very clear.
The global cricket body said that selective participation goes against the basic idea of a global sporting event. According to the ICC, all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms as per the published schedule.
The ICC also highlighted that its tournaments are built on:
- Sporting integrity
- Fair competition
- Consistency
- Equal opportunity for all teams
The governing body warned that selective participation harms the spirit and credibility of international tournaments and affects fans across the world, including those in Pakistan.
What India Will Do on Match Day
As per tournament protocol, India will continue to follow ICC guidelines.
The Indian team is expected to travel to Sri Lanka, attend official practice sessions, take part in media duties, and be present for the toss at the scheduled venue.
If Pakistan does not take the field, the match referee will take the final call as per ICC rules.
Group A Teams – T20 World Cup 2026
| Group A Teams |
|---|
| India |
| Pakistan |
| Namibia |
| Netherlands |
| USA |
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins on 7 February 2026, with India entering the tournament as the defending champions after strong recent performances.
Read more? Will Pakistan Boycott India in T20 World Cup 2026 Knockouts?
The situation now depends on official communication between the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
BCCI has made it clear that it will not issue any independent statement or decision until those discussions take place.
For now, the ICC remains firm on its stance, while India has chosen to follow the rulebook and uphold the tournament’s integrity.
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