India, Pakistan May Be Placed in Separate Groups for T20 World Cup 2026: Report
When India and Sri Lanka co-host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in February 2026, cricket fans may not see India and Pakistan facing off in the group stage. According to a PTI report, the two arch-rivals are likely to be placed in separate groups, with a final decision expected at the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore from July 17 to 20.
Given the ongoing political tension between the two nations — made worse by the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent military escalation — their head-to-head matches have been limited strictly to ICC tournaments in recent years. But now, even that tradition may be under review.
“This issue will definitely come up at the ICC annual conference,” a senior BCCI official told PTI. “While it’s unlikely India and Pakistan would avoid each other in potential knockout matches, separating them in the group stage — something that has usually not happened — is now being considered.”
This will be the first ICC annual meeting attended by Jay Shah as chairman of the governing body, after taking over the role in December 2024. Shah previously served as BCCI secretary and has been a key figure in India’s firm stance on not touring Pakistan for cricketing events.
That tension came to a head during the 2023 Asia Cup, when India refused to travel to Pakistan. A hybrid model was adopted, with Sri Lanka hosting all of India’s matches and most of the knockouts. A similar model was used for the 2025 Champions Trophy, with India’s matches played in Dubai and the final held outside Pakistan — both tournaments ended with India lifting the trophy.
As the 2026 T20 World Cup draws closer, it’s still unclear whether the two countries will face each other at all. The BCCI maintains that any decisions on bilateral cricketing ties will be guided by the Indian government, and with tensions high following the Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, that stance is unlikely to soften.
Before then, India is set to host the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup, beginning September 29. Whether India and Pakistan face off in next year’s men's tournament remains uncertain — but for now, a group-stage clash looks increasingly unlikely.
