Uganda could be drafted into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 if the International Cricket Council takes disciplinary action against Pakistan over its decision to boycott a group stage match against India.
Pakistan confirmed on Sunday that it will participate in the tournament but will not play India on February 15.
The stance has drawn criticism from the ICC, which has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider and warned about the long term impact on the country’s cricket.
According to sources cited by NDTV, the ICC leadership is considering a range of sanctions if Pakistan does not reverse its position.
These include a full suspension from international cricket, a freeze on No Objection Certificates that would block foreign players from featuring in the Pakistan Super League, and the withholding of ICC revenue, estimated at about 34.5 million dollars annually.
Should Pakistan be suspended from the tournament, Uganda is expected to replace them as the highest ranked team outside the 20 qualified nations. The ICC has followed a similar process before, most recently when Scotland replaced Bangladesh in this year’s competition.
Uganda’s potential inclusion would mark a major milestone for the country’s cricket, offering a consecutive opportunity to compete on the global stage at a men’s T20 World Cup.
While there have been unconfirmed reports suggesting Bangladesh could return if Pakistan are suspended, that scenario is considered unlikely given the ICC’s earlier decision to remove Bangladesh over travel concerns to India.
