LAHORE: Pakistan’s decision not to play its T20 World Cup group-stage match against India on February 15 has triggered back-channel efforts by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to defuse the situation and avert major financial losses, Dawn has learnt.
The decision, announced about two weeks before the scheduled fixture, has given the ICC a narrow window to explore possible compromises, including addressing Pakistan’s reservations, sources said.
Officials familiar with the matter said several other cricket boards have also quietly stepped in to assist the ICC in reaching a mutually acceptable solution with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Legal and political context
Pakistan announced the boycott without publicly stating a reason. In previous World Cups, teams have forfeited matches citing security or political concerns, including Australia and the West Indies against Sri Lanka in 1996, and England and New Zealand against Zimbabwe and Kenya, respectively, in the 2003 tournament.
Some observers have criticised Pakistan’s move, noting the absence of an explicit justification. However, sources said the PCB has factored this into its strategy and intends to rely on proceedings from the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) in a case it filed against India in 2018.
The dispute arose after India failed to honour a 2014 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which committed both sides to playing six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. In return, Pakistan had supported the ICC’s “Big Three” revenue-sharing model, under which India, Australia and England were allocated a larger share of ICC income.
According to a source familiar with the proceedings, the PCB asked the BCCI during the 2018 hearing to justify its refusal to tour Pakistan. “Initially, the BCCI maintained it was not required to give a reason. It later said the Indian government had not permitted the tour,” the source said.
When asked to provide written instructions from New Delhi, the BCCI reportedly responded that such directives were conveyed verbally and not formally documented.
Fear of repeat ruling
Sources expressed concern that, as in 2018, India’s influence within the ICC could again result in an adverse ruling against Pakistan, potentially exposing the PCB to financial penalties or sanctions. In that scenario, the government of Pakistan may consider approaching an international court of arbitration, sources said.
Officials also believe Pakistan’s decision was influenced by a recent ICC ruling involving Bangladesh. The ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds and instead excluded Bangladesh from the tournament, replacing it with Scotland. The decision passed by a 14–2 vote, with only Pakistan and Bangladesh opposing the move.
Financial stakes and ICC response
The India-Pakistan fixture is widely regarded as the most commercially valuable match in international cricket and a pillar of the ICC’s revenue model. Media estimates place its overall commercial value at around $500 million, factoring in broadcast rights, sponsorships, advertising premiums, ticket sales and related commercial activity. Advertising slots during an India-Pakistan T20 typically sell for Rs2.5 million to Rs4 million per 10 seconds.
Following Pakistan’s announcement, the ICC issued a strongly worded statement urging the PCB to seek a “mutually acceptable resolution” that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders.
“The ICC notes the statement made by the government of Pakistan regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the statement said, adding that selective participation was “difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event”.
The ICC warned that such a move undermines “sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness”, while acknowledging the role of governments in matters of national policy. It cautioned that the decision was “not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan”.
What happens next
Reports suggest that even if Pakistan maintains its position, the Indian team will still travel to Colombo for the scheduled fixture. If Pakistan fail to field a team at the appointed time, India are expected to be awarded the points under tournament regulations.