Anurag Thakur Reacts to Pakistan’s India Match Boycott Ahead of T20 World Cup, Says 'They Fear Of Losing'

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The political and sporting fallout from Pakistan's decision to boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India continues to escalate, with Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former BCCI president Anurag Thakur offering a sharp reaction on Sunday.

Speaking to CNN-News18, the former Union Sports Minister suggested that Pakistan's refusal to take the field against India on February 15 stems from fear of another defeat. Thakur pointed to India's dominant record over Pakistan in ICC tournaments, stating that history clearly favours the Indian side whenever the two teams meet on the global stage.

India and Pakistan have faced each other 21 times in ICC events, with India emerging victorious on 17 occasions. That overwhelming head-to-head advantage, according to Thakur, may have influenced Pakistan's decision to avoid the high-profile encounter in Colombo.

Earlier on Sunday, the Government of Pakistan issued an official statement on social media confirming that the national team has been cleared to travel to Sri Lanka and participate in the T20 World Cup. However, the statement added that the team would not play the scheduled group-stage match against India. No detailed explanation was provided for the move.

The decision reportedly came after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi held discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While the government did not cite specific reasons publicly, reports indicate that the boycott is linked to Pakistan's support for Bangladesh, who were removed from the tournament following a dispute with the ICC over venue-related security concerns.

Bangladesh had sought a complete relocation of their matches out of India, a request that was turned down by the ICC despite assurances. Pakistan were the only board to back Bangladesh's position, and following Bangladesh's removal from the tournament, Scotland were named as their replacement.

As of now, the ICC has not taken an official action to Pakistan's announcement. With the tournament approaching and the India-Pakistan clash being one of the most commercially significant fixtures in world cricket, all eyes are now on the ICC's next move and whether disciplinary action against Pakistan or the PCB will follow.