Breakthrough Likely Soon on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Match Issue After ICC, PCB and BCB Talks
A breakthrough is expected soon in the ongoing standoff over the India versus Pakistan group-stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 following a high-level meeting involving the International Cricket Council, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, according to reports in Pakistan media. Sources indicated that the matter is likely to be resolved through mutual consultation, with clarity expected within the next 24 hours.
Geo TV reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board is set to seek formal guidance from the Pakistan government before making an official announcement on the issue. The consultation is aimed at finalising Pakistan’s position after extensive discussions held in Lahore on Sunday between an ICC delegation led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCB President Aminul Islam.
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Pakistan media further claimed that the lengthy negotiations have now concluded and a roadmap has been finalised, with a resolution expected in the next few hours through consensus among the stakeholders. The talks focused on Pakistan’s earlier decision to boycott the high-profile February 15 match against India, scheduled to be played in Colombo.
The situation escalated after the official X handle of the Pakistan government announced that the national team would not take the field for the match, a stance later linked by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the broader controversy involving Bangladesh, describing the move as a gesture of solidarity. Bangladesh were subsequently replaced by Scotland in the 2026 T20 World Cup after their demand to play all matches outside India was not accepted by the ICC.
The Bangladesh issue was triggered after Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the tournament squad following directions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, citing concerns related to atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. This chain of events further complicated the tournament’s political and administrative landscape.
Meanwhile, the ICC has reportedly asked the PCB to explain what steps it took to mitigate the so-called ‘Force Majeure’ situation, as required under the Members Participation Agreement. According to ESPNCricinfo, the PCB had emailed the ICC citing government directives as the reason for the boycott, a communication sent less than ten days before the tournament’s start.
The global governing body is also understood to have detailed conditions defining when ‘Force Majeure’ can be legitimately invoked, along with the evidentiary threshold required for non-participation and the potential sporting, commercial and governance consequences. The ICC has reportedly warned the PCB of the material damage it could suffer if the match does not go ahead, while maintaining that although it does not seek confrontation, its constitution allows for suspension or termination of membership in the event of a serious breach of obligations.
On its part, the PCB believes it has a strong case should the matter become contentious, pointing to an earlier dispute with the BCCI that reached the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee over a stalled bilateral series. That case involved allegations that the BCCI failed to honour a 2014 memorandum of understanding to play six bilateral series between 2013 and 2015. Although the PCB lost its claim for damages, it maintains that the Indian government’s refusal to grant permission for the series sets a precedent relevant to the current situation.
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