The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly set to clarify its stance on the proposed boycott of its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India in the next 24 hours after a marathon meeting with senior ICC officials in Lahore. With the mega India vs Pakistan group stage match of the T20 World Cup on February 15 just around the corner, the issue has quickly turned into one of the biggest topics in world cricket.
Held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the discussions lasted for over five hours and were attended by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, ICC vice-chairman Imran Khwaja and Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam. The urgency is evident as the ICC wants to avoid a situation where the most watched tournament of the tournament is left hanging in limbo.
According to reports, the PCB is now expected to consult Pakistan’s federal government before taking the final call. Officials believe the next 24 hours could prove crucial as the board considers both the political direction and wider implications of withdrawing from cricket’s most watched rivalry.
What was the ICC-PCB meeting about?
At the heart of the meeting in Lahore was Pakistan’s decision to skip the scheduled group match against India on February 15 in Colombo. The boycott announcement, made on February 2 with the World Cup less than a week away, escalated tensions and prompted the ICC to take urgent action.
Bangladesh’s presence at the talks added another layer. Aminul Islam landed in Lahore just hours before the meeting, signaling that Bangladesh and Pakistan have found common ground as the ICC works to broker a compromise. Sources told India Today that the two councils have aligned their positions during these discussions.
The ICC’s primary objective was to prevent the situation from degenerating into a full-blown crisis that could affect the schedule, governance and business structure of the tournament.
Why ICC wants IND vs PAK match in T20 World Cup?
Simply put, no cricket fundraiser comes close to India vs Pakistan in terms of global attention and financial value. It is the sport’s biggest revenue engine, driving broadcast rights, sponsorship deals, advertising interest and global viewership.
Broadcasters pay a premium in large part because marquee games like this one are guaranteed audience magnets. If Pakistan were to withdraw, the ICC’s broadcast package would immediately lose value, creating a ripple effect across the tournament’s finances.
The effect will stretch to a problematic extent, as reduced revenue would eventually affect annual payouts to board members, including in Pakistan, Bangladesh and even India.
With the clock ticking and the World Cup already underway, the next 24 hours could determine whether cricket’s fiercest rivalry takes center stage or becomes the tournament’s biggest absentee.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 9, 2026
