LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially unveiled the national team’s jersey for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, branding it the “Markhor Edition,” even as a political shadow was cast over the tournament with the confirmation of a boycott against arch-rivals India.
The reveal took place following the third and final T20I against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium. Captain Salman Ali Agha, along with other squad members, modeled the new kit during a special ceremony. The jersey, maintaining the iconic Pakistan green, draws its inspiration and name from the Markhor, the national animal renowned for its resilience and stature in the mountainous terrain, symbolizing the team’s intended spirit for the global event.
The unveiling ceremony, however, was juxtaposed with a significant geopolitical sporting decision. The PCB concurrently confirmed that Pakistan will boycott its scheduled high-voltage group stage match against India on February 15, 2026. The match was slated to be held in India as part of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka between February 7 and March 8, 2026.
This announcement formalizes a longstanding political tension that frequently spills onto the cricket field, where bilateral series have been suspended for over a decade and teams now only meet in multi-nation ICC or ACC events. The boycott decision underscores the deep-rooted diplomatic strains between the two neighboring nations, prioritizing political stance over sporting spectacle.
The dual revelations present a complex narrative for Pakistani cricket fans: excitement for a new chapter symbolized by the Markhor kit, tempered by the disappointment of being deprived of the sport’s most intense rivalry on the World Cup stage. The focus for the team will now shift to their other group matches as they prepare to compete in the tournament under a banner of national pride, albeit without its most contentious fixture.
