The political stand-off between the Indian and Pakistani governments has once again spilt into cricket, casting a shadow over the build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins later this week. The controversy intensified after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Pakistan would boycott their high-profile group-stage clash against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
The decision has sparked widespread debate, with fans, former players and administrators weighing in on how politics continues to disrupt one of world cricket’s most iconic rivalries. Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi was among the strongest critics of Pakistan’s proposed boycott, arguing that cricket should never be decided away from the field. Speaking to IANS, Modi underlined the importance of keeping sport free from political interference.
“Cricket was created to be decided on the field, not in boardrooms or through boycotts. When politics enters sport, the game loses — but fans always remember who stood for competition,” he said. His comments echo the sentiment of many supporters who believe India vs Pakistan matches are the soul of global cricket tournaments.
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Reports suggest that Pakistan’s decision stems from government-level directives, even though the PCB is expected to field a team for the rest of the tournament. The selective nature of the withdrawal has raised eyebrows, given the commercial, competitive and emotional value of an India-Pakistan clash at a global event.
Beyond the rivalry, the move could have real consequences for Group standings, as tournament regulations allow for points to be awarded in the event of a forfeited match. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is understood to be in consultations with key stakeholders to evaluate the boycott’s sporting, financial, and governance implications.
With broadcasters investing heavily in ICC events, the absence of marquee fixtures threatens to dent viewership projections and advertising revenues. Lalit Modi warned that such uncertainty could make broadcasters cautious in future bidding cycles, impacting the overall financial ecosystem of international cricket.
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“Broadcast rights of bilateral matches and the future of ICC revenues will further come under the lens… this could snowball into future participation of teams. Only the gainer in this scenario will be IPL,” alit Modi added. He also highlighted how franchise cricket, led by the IPL, continues to grow stronger as international cricket grapples with political roadblocks.
As the T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off, the focus should ideally be on cricketing excellence. Instead, the India-Pakistan boycott debate serves as another reminder of how off-field politics can overshadow the game’s biggest stage.
