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"Backing out of a World Cup for what?": Sourav Ganguly on Pakistan's decision to boycott India match
Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has expressed surprise over Pakistan’s decision to not take the field against India in their highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2026 showdown scheduled for 15 February in Colombo. The high anticipation for the marquee contest has been overshadowed by Pakistan’s unexpected stance. Ganguly said that the development caught him off guard, given the magnitude of an India-Pakistan showdown in the World Cup.
"Backing out of a World Cup for what? They are playing in Sri Lanka, in any case. I am really surprised by Pakistan’s backing out of the World Cup. You come to a World Cup to win it, and every point is important. You cannot lose points in a World Cup, so I am a little surprised, but that is the decision they’re taking,” Ganguly said while speaking to reporters.
Pakistan, meanwhile, began their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a positive note, registering a hard-fought victory over the Netherlands in their opening match in Colombo. India, on the other hand, also kicked off their campaign on a winning note, beating the USA in their opening game. Notably, Pakistan are set to play all their World Cup matches, including any finals, in Sri Lanka following an agreement with the ICC.
The BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have agreed that India-Pakistan matches hosted by either country will be staged at a neutral venue. For the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup—co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka—this means Pakistan’s matches will be played entirely in Sri Lanka.
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