ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s decision to go ahead with its ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against arch-rival India has reportedly saved the International Cricket Council (ICC) an estimated $174 million, according to Indian media reports.
The reported amount includes projected losses in broadcast revenues, gate receipts and sponsorship deals that would have been incurred had the high-profile match been cancelled.
Media reports said the confirmation of the Pakistan-India fixture also had an immediate impact on the travel and tourism sector, particularly in Sri Lanka. Airfares between Mumbai and Colombo surged sharply, with ticket prices rising from around INR10,000 to as high as INR60,000 following the announcement.
The development came after the federal government on Monday confirmed that Pakistan will play its scheduled match against India on February 15 in Colombo.
In an official statement, the government said it had reviewed formal requests submitted to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), along with supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other ICC member countries, before approving the decision.
Hoteliers in Colombo welcomed the move, expressing optimism over increased bookings and business from visiting cricket fans ahead of the marquee encounter.
However, the announcement also led to confusion among some supporters who had earlier cancelled hotel reservations or boycotted the match. Reports said fans were now approaching hotels to rebook accommodation or seek clarity on refund policies, while others were inquiring about ticket refunds related to the Pakistan-India game.
Pakistan had earlier announced a boycott of the match amid a dispute involving the BCCI and BCB, which erupted after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League at the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, triggering strong reactions in Dhaka.
Subsequently, the BCB requested the ICC to relocate its matches outside India, a request that was rejected due to scheduling constraints. The ICC later replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, citing the proximity of the event’s start date.
The PCB had reacted strongly to the decision, terming it biased against Bangladesh, and announced its boycott of the match against India before the latest reversal.