New Delhi: Even though there is still almost a year to go for India’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston on 14 June, 2026, the announcement has upset Indian cricket fans, who have criticised the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for what they call “hypocritical” behaviour—accusing the cricket regulator of overlooking ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
The two sporting nations will face each other for the first time after India’s Operation Sindoor, which was in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Indian strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and retaliatory strikes by Pakistan’s armed forces had brought both countries to the brink of war.
Amid the growing demand to boycott cricket with Pakistan, the fixtures of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 have invited sharp reactions from Indians who took to the micro-blogging platform X to criticise the move.
“Have some shame!! All those talks for eventually playing with Pakistan,” a user posted.
Have some shame !! All those talks for eventually playing with 🇵🇰
— AK (@rwamit) June 18, 2025
“Shameless, Pak is in the same group,” another wrote.
Shameless, Pak is in the same group
— Purnima (@Purnima017) June 18, 2025
“So, we will now conveniently forget the issue between us and Pakistan and start our WC campaign with them,” said another comment.
So, we will now conveniently forget the issue between us and Pakistan and start our WC campaign with them.
— ALINJAR DAN (@AlinjarDan) June 18, 2025
One of the posts read: “Why are we playing Pakistan? Didn’t we decide we will boycott them in every way possible? @BCCI you hypocrite.”
Why TF are we playing Pakistan?
Didn't we decide we will boycott them in every way possible? @BCCI you hypocrite MF.
— ShahidAfridiKaAbbu (@GautamMentality) June 18, 2025
“India vs Pakistan reallllllyy, people forget things too quickly,” another fan said on ‘X’.
India vs pakistan reallllllyy, people forgot things too quickly
— shantanu Kumar (@shantanu_k98529) June 18, 2025
The ICC and hosts the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Wednesday announced the full schedule of the tournament, consisting of 12 teams.
The tournament has two groups of six teams each.
Group 1 consists of six-time winners Australia, last edition’s runner-up South Africa, India, Pakistan and two qualifying teams, while the Group 2 will have defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, hosts England and two qualifying teams.
The four ‘qualifying teams’ will come from the global qualifiers scheduled for early 2026.
While Bangladesh, Scotland, USA, Nepal and Thailand have already qualified for that ten-team competition, the Europe, Africa and East Asia-Pacific qualifiers are yet to be completed.
Meanwhile, the 24-day long World Cup will begin on12 June, next year, with the host nation England locking horns with Sri Lanka at Edgbaston. The games will be played across seven venues in England.
The top two teams from each group will play the semifinals at The Oval on 30 June and 2 July. The final will take place at Lord’s on 5 July.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)