The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly opened back-channel talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in an effort to defuse the growing standoff over Pakistan’s proposed boycott of its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. The move comes after the Pakistan government publicly directed the national team to skip the high-profile fixture, triggering concerns across the global cricket ecosystem.
According to a Dawn report, the ICC is keen to find a middle ground to prevent significant commercial and reputational fallout. The India–Pakistan contest is the most valuable fixture in world cricket, and any disruption could lead to heavy financial losses for broadcasters, sponsors and the ICC’s member boards.
The report also suggested that Pakistan may be open to tabling certain “reservations” around the match, which explains why the decision was communicated well in advance rather than at the last minute. Interestingly, the ICC’s efforts are not limited to bilateral talks with the PCB. A couple of other member boards are believed to be involved in the discussions, with the shared objective of reaching an “amicable solution” that preserves the integrity of the tournament while addressing Pakistan’s concerns.
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What that solution might look like, however, remains unclear at this stage. Publicly, both sides have struck different tones. The PCB has maintained a careful silence, pointing to the government’s directive as the trigger for the boycott.
Pakistan’s players, meanwhile, have insisted the decision is beyond their control and that they will abide by whatever call is taken by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the country’s interior minister. Naqvi has yet to issue a detailed public response since criticising Bangladesh’s earlier removal from the tournament as an “injustice”.
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In its most recent statement, the ICC warned that “selective participation” undermines the core principles of global tournaments, where all qualified teams are expected to compete under a unified schedule. The governing body stressed that such a stance conflicts with the ideals of sporting integrity, fairness and competitiveness. While acknowledging the role of governments in national policy, the ICC urged the PCB to weigh the long-term impact of its position on Pakistan cricket and work towards a mutually acceptable solution in the best interests of the game and its fans worldwide.
