PCB Outlines Three Requirements to End World Cup Boycott Threat (Image Courtesy:Cricbuzz)
New Delhi: The India-Pakistan group stage match in the T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be held on February 15 (Sunday) at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. But the Pakistan government has clearly said that they will boycott this match. ICC included Scotland in the tournament in place of Bangladesh, and Pakistan is seeing it as a protest. Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif himself has confirmed this decision. ICC has warned that if this happens, Pakistan may have to suffer huge losses. But now it seems the PCB is in a mood to back down—provided some major conditions are agreed upon.
According to the report of Telecom Asia Sport, PCB has placed three big demands in front of ICC so that it can make up its mind to play the match against India. These demands are their old demands for years, and now under the pressure of the India-Pak match, they are raising them loudly.
Pakistan currently gets about $34.5 million from ICC's annual revenue pool. But PCB says that India-Pak match is the highest-earning game of cricket, and Pakistan plays the biggest role in it. Therefore they should get more share. A PCB source said, "Pakistan's strong position has given us a good opportunity to talk about the demands that have been pending for many years. Many administrators believe that being the highest-paid match, we should get more funding."
PCB has demanded that the bilateral series between India and Pakistan be restarted. The two teams last played a full bilateral series in 2013. But this demand seems difficult to be fulfilled, because this decision is completely in the hands of the Government of India. The source said, "Apart from increasing the revenue, Pakistan is asking ICC to talk to BCCI to get bilateral ties resumed. But not playing the full series is the government's decision, BCCI has no role in it."
After the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian team did not shake hands in all three matches against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025—neither before, nor after the match. Pakistan is now demanding that Indian players do the handshake again so that the spirit of cricket remains alive. “Pakistan will also say that Indian players should follow the ethical demands of the game and shake hands with Pakistani players – as the ICC always emphasizes in the spirit of cricket,” says the source.
If Pakistan does not play the match, sanctions may be imposed from ICC. Financial penalty, reduction in ICC revenue share or closure – all these can happen. The commercial value of the India-Pak match is huge, hence PCB may suffer a loss of crores of rupees in advertising and central funds. Pakistan cricket's operations and future investments could be severely impacted.
Pakistan will have to forfeit 2 points for not playing the match, and the net run rate will also be badly affected. The path to qualifying in the group stage will be difficult. Back-channel talks are going on right now. ICC is trying to convince Pakistan, but PCB is adamant on its demands. It remains to be seen whether this high-voltage match between India and Pakistan ultimately happens or not. Cricket fans are just waiting
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