An important meeting to be held in Lahore on Sunday may shape its immediate future ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026with officials of International Cricket Council (ICC) and this Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ready to discuss Pakistanrefused to play its scheduled 15 February match against India. Adding another layer to the conversation, bangladesh BCB President has also been invited aminul islam He is expected to represent his board at the conference, which is being seen as an important tripartite conference.
The talks come amid mounting pressure on the PCB, which has found itself isolated after invoking the rarely used force majeure clause to justify its stance, reports Cricbuzz. ICC officials, who are reportedly heading to Lahore, have already rejected the validity of that claim, with Pakistan negotiating to avoid potential sanctions and significant financial repercussions.
How did Bangladesh become the center of controversy?
Bangladesh’s presence at the table is not accidental. The dispute can be traced from this Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Earlier requested a change of venue for its men’s team, citing security concerns about playing in India. The ICC rejected the request, resulting in scotland Bangladesh’s place in the tournament.
Pakistan then publicly supported Bangladesh by announcing that it would not play India in Colombo to show solidarity. What initially appeared to be a symbolic gesture soon turned into a major governance issue, threatening the smooth conduct of the World Cup.
The gamble of force majeure backfired on PCB
According to reports, Pakistan’s attempt to implement force majeure proved to be a turning point. The ICC questioned whether the PCB had met the high evidentiary threshold required to justify non-participation, particularly in marquee fixtures with huge commercial value.
The governing body also highlighted that refusing to play even a single match would be a breach of the members’ participation agreement, opening the door to financial penalties and wider disciplinary action. Faced with these realities, the PCB has now opted for dialogue rather than confrontation.
Sri Lanka expressed strong objection
deadlock not resolved Sri LankaHost country of India-Pakistan match. Given the global attention and its potential to attract fans, Sri Lankan officials have reportedly warned that tourism and hospitality would suffer huge losses if the match was boycotted.
Sri Lanka has also reminded Pakistan of a sensitive chapter in its cricket history, when international teams stayed away due to security concerns. During that period, Sri Lanka played a key role in helping Pakistan revive international cricket domestically – a gesture now cited as a reason for reciprocity.
Demands, negotiations and what’s next
Unverified reports suggest that the PCB may demand a larger share of ICC revenues, revival of bilateral cricket with India and implementation of the handshake protocol. However, bilateral series are outside the ICC’s jurisdiction, and on-field protocols remain voluntary, making the acceptability of these demands uncertain. Bangladesh may also press for compensation for being replaced in the tournament.
Also read: Iceland Cricket reveals why Pakistan will be the first team to be eliminated from T20 World Cup 2026
