India, Pakistan may avoid same group in T20 World Cup 2026

India Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 group : As tensions continue to simmer between India and Pakistan following recent political unrest, the cricketing world could witness another major setback in the form of a group stage split between the two arch-rivals at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February 2026, the tournament was expected to showcase yet another high-voltage clash between the two neighbors. But that possibility now hangs in the balance.

According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), India and Pakistan may not be placed in the same group for the tournament. A final decision on the matter will be taken during the ICC Annual Conference, slated to be held in Singapore from July 17 to 20.

A senior BCCI official, speaking to the press on condition of anonymity, said:
“This matter will be up for discussion at the annual conference. While it’s difficult to avoid a potential India-Pakistan clash in the knockouts, there’s a growing consensus that the two sides should not be drawn in the same group.”

This development follows the terrorist attack in Pahalgaon on April 22, which further deteriorated the already strained diplomatic ties between the two countries. The impact has spilled over into cricket, where India and Pakistan’s meetings have already been restricted to only ICC and ACC events. Now, even those rare encounters are under scrutiny.

India and Pakistan have not engaged in a bilateral series since 2012, and that drought shows no sign of ending anytime soon. The last time the two met on the field was during an ICC event, and even those fixtures are now facing logistical and political obstacles.

Adding intrigue to the situation, the 2025 ICC Annual Conference will mark the first major meeting under the leadership of Jay Shah, who took over as ICC Chairman in December 2024 after serving as BCCI Secretary. All eyes will be on Shah and the international body’s ability to navigate the sensitive relationship between two of cricket’s biggest stakeholders.

The rift between the BCCI and PCB is neither new nor subtle. In 2023, India refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to implement a hybrid hosting model, with Sri Lanka hosting all Indian matches.

A similar pattern unfolded during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where India’s games were moved to Dubai, with the final again being hosted outside Pakistan. In both cases, India emerged as champions, but the political subtext remained impossible to ignore.

While the 2026 T20 World Cup remains months away, more immediate developments are expected soon. India is set to host the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, starting from September 29, where a potential India-Pakistan matchup could test the waters for future fixtures.

The BCCI has made it clear that any decisions regarding matches against Pakistan will strictly follow the Indian government’s direction. Given the current climate, particularly in the aftermath of the Pahalgaon incident, the possibility of a softened stance looks highly unlikely.

As the ICC prepares to bring together its top officials in Singapore, fans across the globe will watch closely—hoping politics doesn’t take center stage over cricket once again.

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