India and Pakistan Could Meet Three Times in T20 World Cup 2026

India and Pakistan could potentially clash up to three times during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, though geopolitical tensions threaten to impact the actual number of matches played between the two cricket rivals.

Group Stage Clash: February 15, 2026

The first encounter is guaranteed in the group stage on Sunday, February 15, 2026. However, Pakistan’s government has directed the Pakistan Cricket Board not to take the field for this match, citing geopolitical standoff. If Pakistan doesn’t participate, India will receive a walkover with two points, though the match will officially be recorded as a “0-0” result in the record books rather than a victory.

Super Eight and Knockout Possibilities

If both teams progress and finish as top-two finishers in Group A, they could meet again during the Super Eight stage. The International Cricket Council traditionally places them in separate groups to avoid early repeat matches. However, depending on seeding and performance, a second clash remains mathematically possible before the knockouts begin.

A potential third meeting could occur in the Semi-Final or Final if both teams advance through the Super Eight stage. Notably, the ICC has pre-designated Colombo as the venue for any knockout match involving Pakistan, even if originally scheduled for Indian cities like Ahmedabad.

While Pakistan has announced a selective boycott for the February 15 group stage match, officials haven’t officially confirmed whether they would also boycott potential Semi-Final or Final encounters. The actual number of India-Pakistan matches ultimately depends on Pakistan’s stance and both teams’ performances throughout the tournament