India, Feb. 2 -- Pakistan have not pulled out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. They have entered the tournament, but their government has directed the team to boycott only the February 15 group match against India.

That distinction is everything. A full withdrawal would have been the cleanest "principles first" statement - consistent, costly, and unambiguous. A one-match boycott, instead, is engineered to maximum signalled: the loudest headline, the biggest audience, the most commercial weight.

The ICC has also warned that selective participation threatens the integrity of the competition and can carry broader consequences.

The most plausible principles-based interpretation isn't romantic. It is strategic.

Boycotting only India le...