T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka Reminds Pakistan Of Old Ties, Urges PCB To Reconsider Decision To Boycott India Match

Colombo: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India. SLC, co-hosts of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, stated in a letter to the PCB that the decision to withdraw from the India-Pakistan match scheduled to be held in Colombo is causing significant financial losses.

What has Sri Lanka Cricket said?

According to Sri Lanka Cricket, all preparations for this blockbuster match had already been completed, but Pakistan's decision has led to widespread hotel booking cancellations, severely impacting Colombo's tourism sector. Reports indicate that Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva said that the cancellation of this high-voltage match could have a serious negative impact on the commercial and sporting aspects of the tournament.

Sri Lanka Cricket reminded the PCB that it has always supported Pakistan during difficult times and, given the current situation, appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider its decision. Referring to past cooperation, Sri Lanka Cricket recalled that its team had toured Pakistan several times under challenging and sensitive circumstances when other cricket nations were hesitant to do so. These decisions were made in the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect between the two boards.

What decision did Pakistan government take?

Initially, the Pakistan Cricket Board had threatened to boycott the entire tournament in protest against Bangladesh's last-minute withdrawal. Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board left the decision regarding the team's participation to the Pakistan government led by Shehbaz Sharif. Ultimately, the Pakistan government allowed the team, captained by Salman Ali Agha, to travel to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup, but prohibited them from playing the high-profile match against India at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15th.

Sri Lanka Cricket stated that as a host nation, it is extremely enthusiastic about the tournament and that all commercial, operational, logistical, and security preparations for all matches to be held there have already been completed. This includes hospitality planning and the sale of match tickets. The letter also stated that tickets for the matches in Sri Lanka, particularly the India-Pakistan match, have already been sold out and have seen tremendous demand, reflecting unprecedented public interest and significant commercial stakes. Sri Lanka Cricket warned that the absence of any team from such a high-profile tournament could lead to serious consequences, including substantial financial losses, an impact on tourism, and broader economic repercussions.