India
will
proceed
with
travel
plans
to
Sri
Lanka
for
their
scheduled
T20
World
Cup
2026
Group
A
match
against
Pakistan
on
February
15,
even
as
the
Pakistan
Cricket
Board
maintains
its
decision
to
boycott
the
fixture.
Sources
indicate
that
the
Indian
team
will
strictly
follow
tournament
protocol
and
wait
for
officials
to
take
a
final
call
at
the
venue.
India
Travel
Sri
Lanka
India
to
adhere
to
ICC
match-day
protocol
According
to
a
report
by
ANI,
sources
within
the
Board
of
Control
for
Cricket
in
India
said
the
Suryakumar
Yadav-led
side
will
travel
to
Colombo
as
scheduled
and
complete
all
mandatory
requirements
laid
down
by
the
International
Cricket
Council.
These
include
training
sessions,
a
pre-match
press
conference
and
arriving
at
the
stadium
on
time.
“Team
India
will
travel
to
Sri
Lanka
and
follow
ICC
protocol.
They
will
practise
as
scheduled,
do
the
press
conference,
reach
the
stadium
on
time
and
wait
for
the
match
referee
to
call
off
the
match,”
a
source
said.
The
match
is
slated
to
be
played
at
the
R
Premadasa
Stadium
in
Colombo.
Walkover
likely
if
Pakistan
does
not
turn
up
Under
ICC
playing
conditions,
a
walkover
can
be
awarded
only
if
one
side
does
not
present
itself
for
the
toss.
As
things
stand,
India
captain
Suryakumar
Yadav
is
expected
to
walk
out
for
the
toss.
If
Pakistan
skipper
Salman
Ali
Agha
does
not
appear,
officials
are
likely
to
award
India
a
walkover
along
with
two
points.
The
situation
has
put
the
spotlight
on
the
match
referee,
who
will
make
the
final
determination
once
the
formalities
are
completed
on
match
day.
Pakistan
players
learnt
of
boycott
via
government
post
Pakistan’s
squad,
which
has
clearance
to
participate
in
the
rest
of
the
T20
World
Cup,
reportedly
learnt
about
the
India-match
boycott
through
a
government
announcement
shared
on
social
media.
“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
team
shall
not
take
the
field
in
the
match
scheduled
on
15
February
2026
against
India,”
the
statement
posted
on
X
read.
The
boycott
decision
by
the
Pakistan
Cricket
Board
is
being
seen
as
a
political
signal
following
Bangladesh’s
removal
from
the
tournament.
The
move
came
after
the
ICC
declined
Bangladesh’s
request
to
shift
its
matches
from
India
to
Sri
Lanka,
citing
security
assessments.
ICC
warns
of
wider
consequences
The
ICC
has
expressed
concern
over
the
potential
fallout
of
the
boycott
and
has
cautioned
Pakistan
about
the
broader
impact
on
the
sport.
“The
ICC
hopes
that
the
PCB
will
consider
the
significant
and
long-term
implications
for
cricket
in
its
own
country,
as
this
decision
is
likely
to
impact
the
global
cricket
ecosystem,”
the
global
body
said.
“While
the
ICC
respects
the
role
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,”
it
added.
Credit:
Oneindia