BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has backed the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to warn Pakistan of serious consequences for selectively withdrawing from the highly anticipated T20 World Cup match against India to be played in Colombo on February 15.
Pakistan’s decision, conveyed through an official government statement, was widely seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament. Bangladesh has been removed from the T20 World Cup after the ICC rejected its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.
The ICC has already warned the Pakistan Cricket Board that a boycott of the marquee match could trigger punitive sanctions, underscoring that such a move is against the wider interests of the game.
“The ICC has issued a big statement on this issue. It has emphasized the element of sportsmanship. We are in full agreement with the ICC. The Board of Control for Cricket in India will not comment on anything until we speak to the ICC,” Shukla told reporters.
Earlier, Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the Indian Premier League, allegedly on the behest of the BCCI, sparked controversy. Bangladesh subsequently refused to travel to India citing security concerns, sparking a chain of reactions that culminated in Pakistan’s decision to boycott the match in India.
The India-Pakistan clash remains the most anticipated match of any ICC event, consistently delivering top global viewership, sponsor interest and broadcast revenue. The host could suffer advertising losses estimated at between Rs 200 and 250 crore, with a 10-second commercial slot for the match worth up to Rs 40 crore.
From a sporting perspective, a Pakistan no-show would earn India full points, although the ICC retains the power to impose financial sanctions on the PCB. According to the regulations, the opposing team must be present on the field to throw in order to claim a transition.
Accordingly, The Indian team is expected to travel to Sri Lankawith captain Suryakumar Yadav scheduled for the toss. If Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha does not turn up, the match referee will award India a walkover and two points.
Apart from the immediate fixture, Pakistan could face a number of sanctions, including financial sanctions, potential docking of Test World Cup points, stagnation in the ICC rankings, reluctance of top member nations to travel the country and restrictions on players’ participation in the Pakistan Super League.
Pakistan are scheduled to open their T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18, with all their matches to be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 2, 2026
