Islamabad, 23 May 2025: T20 World Cup fans expecting an early showdown between cricket’s fiercest rivals may be left waiting, as Pakistan and India are reportedly set to be placed in separate groups for the 2026 ICC tournament.
According to sources familiar with the tournament planning, the decision to split the two giants stems from ongoing diplomatic strains that have again impacted cricketing relations.
Though the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to officially confirm the groupings, insiders suggest the move is a precautionary step to avoid potential complications.
The T20 World Cup, slated to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is expected to follow a hybrid format. Pakistan is unlikely to play any matches on Indian soil, further justifying the decision to keep the two nations apart during the initial rounds.
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This approach ensures that any clash between the two will only occur if both teams progress to the knockout stages heightening anticipation for a possible high-stakes encounter.
This would not be the first time the tournament structure has been influenced by the political landscape. A similar format was employed in 2024, when Pakistan and India last met in the group stage in New York.
That match, which drew a global audience exceeding 400 million viewers, ended in a tense finish with India narrowly edging out Pakistan.
Despite the disappointment for fans eager for an early blockbuster, the prospect of a late-stage duel still promises enormous global interest and financial reward for organizers.
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Many believe such a clash, if it materializes, would draw one of the biggest television audiences in sporting history.
The situation may also affect the 2025 Asia Cup, where tournament planners are reportedly considering a similar separation if political circumstances do not improve.
Still, the T20 World Cup remains one of the few stages where sporting excellence and geopolitical drama intertwine, and if India and Pakistan do meet later in the tournament, the world will be watching.
