The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to consult its government again to decide on its Sri Lankan counterpart’s request to reconsider its boycott of the T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo.
The Pakistan government has allowed the PCB to send the national team to the T20 World Cup but prevented it from playing against Indiawhich is commercially the biggest match for the ICC and its broadcasters.
This led to Sri Lanka Cricket sending email to PCBThey claim that not holding the match between the arch-rivals on February 15 will cause financial losses to the SLC and will also damage the organization and image of the tournament in the island nation, which is co-hosting the show with India.
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Pakistan play all their matches in Colombo and Pallekele, starting with the match against the Netherlands on Saturday.
“Obviously, Pakistan has always enjoyed very close and friendly relations with Sri Lanka at the government, government and cricket level. So the mail from their board cannot be simply ignored,” a source aware of the development said on Saturday.
“Mohsin Naqvi was contacted directly by the Sri Lanka Board Chairman Shammi Silva and was reminded that at this time Sri Lanka needed Pakistan to stand up for them because without the matches against Pakistan and India, the Sri Lanka Board would lose additional income from gate money, hospitality sales etc,” the source added.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN CHANGE IT’S POSITION?
The source said Naqvi assured his counterpart (Shammi Silva) that he would consult the government and get back to him.
He said media reports that Pakistan had also rejected Sri Lanka’s request were not correct.
“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was not even in the country since yesterday and is expected to return today. He will forward an email to the Prime Minister to end the boycott of the India match and then a decision should be taken by Monday,” the source said.
He noted that as recently as last November, the Sri Lankan government stood firmly behind Pakistan when some of its players wanted to return home from a tour of Pakistan due to security concerns.
“Not only the Sri Lankan board but also the government has ordered the players to complete the white ball tour.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
February 7, 2026
