Suniel Shetty has shared his views on Pakistan’s reported resolution to boycott its ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match towards India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. Addressing the media on the launch of Black Scorpion: To Hell And Again in Mumbai, the Border actor expressed hope that the high-voltage conflict would nonetheless happen, stressing the historic significance of the rivalry.“I need Pakistan to come back to Sri Lanka and play towards India. The India and Pakistan groups have a wonderful rivalry identical to the Ashes between Australia and England,” Suniel Shetty mentioned.
Uncertainty looms over India vs Pakistan fixture
Suniel Shetty’s remarks come at a time when uncertainty surrounds the much-anticipated India–Pakistan match on the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pakistan just lately determined to boycott the group-stage encounter, after the Pakistan authorities posted on X that the Pakistan crew “shall not take the sphere” towards India, with out citing any particular purpose.
ICC responds to Pakistan’s resolution
Following the Pakistan authorities’s announcement, the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) issued a press release expressing concern over the event. The worldwide cricketing physique acknowledged that “selective participation” goes towards the “basic premise of a world sporting occasion” and added that it expects the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to discover a mutually acceptable resolution that safeguards the pursuits of all stakeholders.
BCCI condemns boycott as ‘towards sportsmanship’
The Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) strongly criticised Pakistan’s resolution to boycott the February 15 conflict, calling it unsporting. Chatting with reporters on the sidelines of the Girls’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 last on the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, BCCI Joint Secretary Prabhtej Singh Bhatia mentioned, “That is towards the sportsmanship of any sport. It is a very fallacious resolution by Pakistan. I’m positive the ICC will take very strict motion, and we’ll watch for the ICC’s resolution.”
Staff India unfazed amid controversy
Earlier within the day, India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that the Indian crew stays totally ready for a possible showdown towards arch-rivals Pakistan. Talking throughout the captains’ media briefing in Colombo, Suryakumar emphasised that India’s method would stay unchanged, regardless of the uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s participation.