Amid growing tension between the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over Pakistan’s refusal to play India at the 2026 T20 World Cup, a new report sheds light on why there may be no formal communication from the PCB to the world body. According to a Telecomasia report, the PCB believes there is no need to write to the ICC because the decision has already been announced by the Pakistan government through its official channels.

On Sunday, the Pakistan government confirmed that the national team has been cleared to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament. However, it also made it clear that Pakistan will not take the field for the high-profile Group A clash against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

The development has sparked concern within the ICC, which is awaiting official clarification from the PCB before taking a call on possible sanctions or further action. A PCB source, quoted in the report, argued that since the call is a government directive made public on an official platform, there is little value in sending a separate letter to the ICC.

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The source also drew a comparison with India’s stance during the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan was the designated host for that event, but the tournament was held in a hybrid model after India played all their matches in Dubai. At the time, the BCCI had cited a lack of government clearance to travel to Pakistan, but no formal letter from the Indian government was reportedly submitted to the ICC.

The PCB’s position is that if India did not provide written government communication, then Pakistan should not be compelled to do so now. However, the ICC is understood to be seeking clarity directly from the PCB before deciding its next steps.

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Despite the uncertainty surrounding the fixture, the Indian team is expected to travel to Colombo as scheduled. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is likely to fulfil pre-match media duties. For India to be awarded a walkover, their team must be present at the venue for the toss. If both teams fail to turn up, the match could be declared abandoned, with each side receiving one point.