The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly divided over the government’s directive to boycott the high-profile February 15 match against India in Colombo during the men’s T20 World Cup 2026. According to a report by NDTV, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi remains firm on following the government’s stance, while several officials within the board are said to be open to the idea of playing the match.
With time running out, the PCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC) are yet to reach a final decision. The two bodies have been engaged in back-channel discussions over the past few days, with the ICC’s case being led by deputy chair Imran Khwaja, who represents Singapore on the ICC board.
A meeting was held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, attended by Khwaja, Naqvi, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam, and other senior PCB officials. During the meeting, the ICC reportedly warned the PCB once again of serious “consequences” if it fails to persuade the Pakistani government and does not go ahead with the match as scheduled.
Naqvi is now expected to consult Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before announcing the board’s next move.
Earlier reports have stated that a boycott would be a clear breach of the ICC’s Member Participation Agreement, which the PCB signed ahead of the tournament. However, the PCB is exploring the possibility of invoking the Force Majeure clause, which allows a team to withdraw if the decision is beyond its control.
The ICC has already informed the PCB about the strict conditions required to apply this clause, making Pakistan’s case difficult to defend.
If the boycott goes ahead, it could result in major financial losses for the ICC and its member boards. India vs Pakistan matches are considered the biggest attraction on the ICC calendar due to their massive global viewership and commercial value.
