The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly in private talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the Pakistani government directed a boycott of the match against India on February 15 at the 2026 T20 World Cup in Colombo. A report from Dawn states that the ICC aims to resolve this issue to avoid significant financial and competitive challenges that could arise from missing this key group-stage match.
The ICC is looking to “resolve the issue and avoid major financial losses,” and Pakistan may be willing to discuss some of its concerns. The timing of the announcement, just two weeks before the match, suggests that discussions were expected.
According to the report, “a couple of other cricket boards” are also part of these discussions, but it’s unclear what compromises are being considered or how they would affect the match and tournament. The ICC has not provided a new public statement beyond warning against “selective participation” and indicating broader implications for international cricket.
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No Public Statement from PCB
The PCB has not formally communicated its stance to the ICC, even though the Pakistani government stated that the team will go to Sri Lanka but will not play against India. Players, including experienced team members, have said that the final decision is up to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, has not commented since he referred to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament as an “injustice.” The ICC’s latest response expressed concern over governance and participation issues but did not outline specific penalties.
As reported by Dawn, the PCB has not made an official boycott announcement but is preparing for possible sanctions. The board is allegedly laying groundwork for legal action should the ICC impose penalties.
PCB’s Strategy Against BCCI
The PCB is also considering reinstating a long-standing dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that started in 2018. That year, the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee dismissed Pakistan’s claim for USD 63 million in damages related to India’s failure to conduct bilateral series from 2014 to 2023.
The PCB had claimed that the BCCI violated an agreement to play seven series, including two that were supposed to take place in Pakistan. The BCCI countered that they could not tour Pakistan due to a lack of government clearance and argued that the agreement lacked legal binding, as per ESPNcricinfo. A source familiar with the situation told Dawn that during the hearing, the PCB asked the BCCI for its reasons for not touring Pakistan. The BCCI initially refused to provide a reason but later cited the Indian government’s restrictions.
The PCB may use these proceedings to justify not providing reasons for a potential boycott at the World Cup. If the ICC does not accept this stance, Pakistan might consider taking the issue to an international arbitration court.
