Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed it will stay neutral amid tensions involving India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The board said it maintains friendly relations with all three nations and will not enter regional disagreements.
The tournament faced disruption after Bangladesh lost its place following a refusal to travel to India due to security concerns. The situation briefly escalated when Pakistan signalled a possible withdrawal. That uncertainty reduced after the Pakistan Cricket Board announced its World Cup squad.
Sri Lanka Cricket officials said the board made a clear choice to avoid political or regional disputes. They added that Sri Lanka remains willing to host matches or future tournaments if any of the involved boards make a request.
“In these disputes among India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we are remaining neutral; all of these are friendly nations,” Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Bandula Dissanayake said when speaking to AFP in Colombo.
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Notably, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka under an ICC agreement valid until 2027. The arrangement followed India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy last year.
Sri Lanka will host 20 of the 55 matches in the tournament. The schedule includes six Super Eight fixtures. The India vs. Pakistan Group A match will take place in Colombo on February 15. Sri Lanka has upgraded venues ahead of the event. Authorities installed new floodlights at the Singhalese Sports Club. Security planning has also increased for marquee games.
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