Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to make the final decision on whether Pakistan will go ahead with or continue to boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, sources told Geo News on Monday.
PCB Chairman to Update PM
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet the prime minister today to brief him on his meeting with the International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation. The discussion comes after Pakistan decided not to play against arch-rival India in solidarity with Bangladesh, which was removed from the tournament citing security concerns and its refusal to send its team to New Delhi.
During a five-hour meeting held a day earlier, officials from the PCB, ICC, and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) — including Naqvi, BCB President Aminul Islam, and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja — discussed possible solutions to the ongoing dispute. Sources indicate that the ICC responded positively to Bangladesh’s demands, and a formula to address their grievances has been prepared. The PCB acted as the main coordinator during these discussions.
Background of the ICC-BCB Dispute
Tensions began after Bangladesh’s key pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sparking outrage in Dhaka. Bangladesh subsequently requested the ICC to move its matches outside India, but the plea was rejected.
In response, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, citing scheduling constraints so close to the February 7 start. Reacting to this, the PCB announced it would boycott its match against India, citing bias against Bangladesh as the reason.
Financial and Commercial Stakes
A Pakistan-India T20 clash is among the most commercially lucrative fixtures in cricket. The total value of a single match, including broadcast rights, sponsorship, advertising, and ticket sales, is estimated at approximately $500 million (around INR 45,000 crore).
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Advertising slots during an India-Pakistan match command between INR 25 lakh and INR 40 lakh for a 10-second spot — significantly higher than other knockout matches involving India. The immediate financial impact is expected to be felt primarily by the official broadcast rights holder, with advertising revenue from the match alone projected at around INR 300 crore, according to industry estimates.
Next Steps
ICC Deputy Chairman Khwaja has returned to the cricketing body’s headquarters for final approval of the proposals, while BCB President Islam will brief Dhaka authorities. Once the plan is finalized, ICC and BCB officials will reconnect to determine the next steps, after which PM Shehbaz Sharif will make Pakistan’s final call on the India fixture.
The situation remains fluid, with both sporting and financial implications hanging in the balance as Pakistan awaits the prime minister’s decision.
