The 2026 T20 World Cup has started, the first match will be between Pakistan vs Netherlands. However, there is a cloud hanging over the India vs Pakistan match as the Pakistan government has ordered that the Men in Green will attend the marquee event but will boycott the match against their arch rivals India, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) supporting the decision.
The decision came in a show of solidarity towards Bangladesh, who were dropped after their stance of changing the venue citing security reasons was rejected by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and was replaced by Scotland. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not submitted any official letter to the ICC on its selective participation.
Pakistan Cricket Board will reconsider
After all the drama, the Pakistan Cricket Board will reportedly discuss with its national government to reconsider its participation decision against India. As Sri Lanka Cricket has sent an official email to the PCB, which mentions that if the India vs Pakistan match scheduled to be held on February 15 at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo does not take place, then Sri Lanka Cricket will have to suffer losses.
This has damaged the structure and reputation of the tournament in the island nation which competes with India. According to the source, as per the recent developments, Naqvi assured Shammi Silva that he will investigate and contact the government.
“Obviously, Pakistan has always had very close and friendly relations with Sri Lanka at government-to-government and cricket level. So their board matches cannot be ignored casually,” a source familiar with the development said on Saturday (quoting PTI).
Mohsin Naqvi will discuss with Pakistan government
The source said that reports of PCB rejecting SLC’s request are not true. “Sri Lankan board president Shammi Silva has directly contacted Mohsin Naqvi and reminded him that Sri Lanka needs Pakistan at this time, because without Pakistan and India matches, the Sri Lankan board will lose additional revenue from gate money, hospitality sales etc.,” the source said.
The Sri Lankan government had provided concrete support to Pakistan as recently as last November when some of its players requested to go home from the Pakistan tour due to security concerns, the source said. This has been a reason for the reconsideration of the PCB.
There are good relations between Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka
The source concluded, “PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is not even in the country since yesterday and is due back today. He will bring the email to the notice of the Prime Minister to end the boycott of the India match and then a decision will be taken on the matter by Monday. Not only the Sri Lankan board but the government has instructed the players to complete the white-ball tour.”
India vs Pakistan is the most watched game of any major ICC event. The ICC and the hosts earn double the revenue from this game than any other match. Therefore, if the match does not take place, there will be a huge loss. If the Pakistan Cricket Board sticks to its stance of not playing against India, it may face serious sanctions and fines.
Also read: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi become non-Pakistani, take brilliant tag-team catch against Netherlands in T20 World Cup
