Pakistan in T20 WC Live: Pakistan boycott India clash; ICC warns of consequences

Beyond fines, there could be a host of wider sanctions, including docking of World Test Championship points, no movement in ICC rankings, reluctance of top member nations to tour Pakistan, and even restrictions on player participation in the Pakistan Super League.

Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18, all at the SSC ground in Colombo.

A source close to the PCB said chairman Mohsin Naqvi will address the media soon, with a key question being whether the boycott was a unilateral government decision or taken with the board’s consent.

Notably, neither the PCB nor the government has clarified what would happen if India and Pakistan were to meet in the knockout stages, even as their clashes remain the main source of revenue for broadcasters and the ICC.

From a sporting perspective, a boycott does not automatically translate into a walkover.

As per ICC playing conditions, the opposition team must be present at the venue for the scheduled coin toss for a match to be officially forfeited.

Accordingly, India will travel to Sri Lanka and follow full match-day protocol. India captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to walk out for the toss at the appointed time. If Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha does not appear, the match referee will award India a walkover and two points.

While this secures India a result without play, the ICC retains the authority to impose financial penalties on the PCB.

The India-Pakistan contest is the single biggest revenue driver at any ICC tournament, drawing peak global viewership, massive sponsorship interest and premium broadcast rates.

Broadcasters are expected to take a significant hit if the match does not take place, with advertisement revenue losses estimated to be in the range of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore.

A 10-second commercial slot during an India-Pakistan game can reportedly cost up to Rs 40 lakh.

Beyond immediate losses, the absence of the fixture could have knock-on effects on sponsorship valuations and overall tournament economics, underlining why the ICC is deeply concerned about the precedent set by the boycott.

The ICC has questioned the Pakistan government’s decision and warned that the boycott could invite punitive sanctions.

In a strongly worded statement, the global governing body said it hoped the PCB would consider the “significant and long-term implications” for cricket in Pakistan, noting that such actions could impact the wider global cricket ecosystem of which Pakistan is a beneficiary.

While the ICC said it respects the role of governments in matters of national policy, it stressed that selective participation is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan, and undermines the principles on which ICC events are built.

In a statement posted on social media, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan said it had granted approval to the national side to take part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but added that the team “shall not take the field” for the match scheduled against India.

The decision, conveyed directly by the government, is being seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament.

Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland after the ICC declined their request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds, a move that triggered sharp reactions within Pakistan’s cricketing and political establishment and prompted the PCB to reassess its participation in solidarity with Bangladesh.

Pakistan on Sunday announced a boycott of its marquee men’s T20 World Cup 2026 group league match against India, a decision that is expected to have serious sporting and financial repercussions even as the government cleared the national team’s participation in the rest of the global event starting February 7.

The move, confirmed through an official government statement, ends days of speculation over whether Pakistan would withdraw entirely from the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Instead, the government has opted for selective participation, allowing Pakistan to compete in all matches except the high-profile February 15 clash against India in Colombo, the most anticipated fixture of any ICC event.