ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the final decision on whether Pakistan will proceed with or maintain its boycott of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, sources said on Monday.
According to the sources, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet the prime minister later today to brief him on recent discussions held with a delegation of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Pakistan had earlier announced its decision not to play against arch-rival India in solidarity with Bangladesh, which was excluded from the tournament after raising security concerns and refusing to send its team to New Delhi.
On Sunday, the PCB, ICC and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held talks lasting more than five hours. The meeting was attended by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, BCB President Aminul Islam and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja.
Sources said the ICC responded positively to Bangladesh’s concerns during the discussions and a formula to address the grievances of the BCB was prepared. Proposals were exchanged between the ICC and the BCB, while the PCB played a coordinating role in the negotiations.
With ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja returning to the council’s headquarters for final approval of the proposals and BCB President Aminul Islam heading back to Dhaka to brief his board, officials are expected to reconnect later today to finalise the next steps.
Tensions between the cricket boards of Bangladesh and India escalated after Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), triggering strong reactions in Dhaka.
Subsequently, the BCB requested the ICC to shift its matches outside India, a request that was rejected by the international body. Following Bangladesh’s firm stance, the ICC replaced it with Scotland in the tournament, citing scheduling constraints ahead of the February 7 start.
The PCB reacted strongly to the decision, terming it biased, and announced a boycott of Pakistan’s match against India.
An India-Pakistan clash is considered one of the most commercially valuable fixtures in world cricket, generating millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsorship and advertising revenue.
Industry estimates put the total commercial value of a single India-Pakistan T20 match at around $500 million, with advertising slots during such matches commanding premium rates significantly higher than other fixtures.