Indian cricket team captain says Indian team’s position was clear and preparations were moving ahead as planned
MUMBAI: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Feb 5th, 2026) Indian cricket team captain Suryakumar Yadav on Tuesday said that India will travel to Sri Lanka for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 irrespective of whether the scheduled match against Pakistan takes place.
Speaking to the media during a briefing in Mumbai, Yadav said the Indian team’s position was clear and preparations were moving ahead as planned. “Our team will go to Colombo whether the match is held or not,” he said.
He clarified that India had not refused to play Pakistan, stating that the decision to boycott the fixture was taken by Pakistan. “The ICC has issued the schedule. The BCCI and the Indian government, in coordination with the ICC, had decided to play at a neutral venue,” Yadav added.
The Indian captain further said that all travel arrangements had already been finalized. “Our tickets have been booked. We are going, and we will see what happens next,” he said.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled to begin on February 7. The highly anticipated match between traditional rivals India and Pakistan is slated for February 15 in Colombo.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan has announced a boycott of the February 15 match against India. Following the announcement, the ICC had urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision.
Cricket analysts believe that the cancellation of an India-Pakistan World Cup clash could result in major financial losses for the ICC and the host nations, adding to concerns within the global cricket body.
As per ICC regulations, India will still be required to arrive at the ground according to the schedule despite Pakistan’s refusal. The Indian team would wait for the opposition, complete post-match formalities including the press conference, and would be awarded two points in the event of a no-show.
Pakistan is set to play its opening match of the tournament on February 7. Apart from India, Pakistan’s group includes Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States.
