PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s drama continuesImage Credit source: PTI
Pakistan Cricket Board is trying to capitalize on the issue of Bangladesh being out of T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while hinting at boycott, had said that his government will take the decision regarding playing in the World Cup. Now Pakistani media is claiming that their team will boycott the match against India but will play the remaining matches of the tournament. Although the Pakistani board has postponed the decision on this for the next few days, but if it takes such a step then it can prove to be suicidal for itself, while it can also cause loss to the Sri Lankan board.
Due to tension with India, the Bangladesh government had decided not to send its team for the World Cup, due to which the controversy started. This controversy ended with Bangladesh’s exit from the World Cup, but by jumping into this ruckus, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi increased the tension further. Naqvi had come out in support of Bangladesh and announced that the government would take the final decision on his team’s participation in the World Cup.
This statement of Naqvi was being seen as a threat of possible boycott of the tournament. Regarding this, Naqvi also met Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on January 26 and told that the final decision will be taken on Friday, January 30 or Monday, February 2. But during this time, news also started coming from Pakistani media that PCB may decide to boycott only the match against India instead of the entire tournament. At present this decision has not been taken but if it happens then it may have to face serious consequences.
In fact, if the Pakistani team does not play the match against India, then action can be taken against it even before the start of the tournament. This is because before the start of every tournament, a contract is signed between the ICC and the cricket boards of the participating countries, in which all the terms and conditions related to playing are written. In this, everything from the schedule of the tournament to the venue and other ‘playing conditions’ are mentioned.
In such a situation, if the Pakistani team boycotts only the match against India, then it will be considered a violation of the contract and ICC can take strict action against it. Under this, the Pakistani team can be thrown out of the tournament itself. Apart from this, strict penalty can also be imposed on him. Apart from this, he may also be banned from playing in some upcoming ICC tournaments.
Not only this, under ICC’s revenue sharing model, Pakistan gets an amount of 34 million dollars i.e. about Rs 311 crore (INR) annually, which is a major part of PCB’s earnings. Pakistan may have to lose all or a large part of it.
Any argument of Pakistan for boycotting the match against India will not fit in this entire matter. A major reason for this is the pre-determined conditions. Actually, due to tension in relations with India, Pakistani team is playing its matches in Sri Lanka. In such a situation, it cannot boycott the match or the entire tournament against India citing any kind of security threat. If this happens then ICC can also take legal action against him.
Not only PCB, ICC and Sri Lanka Cricket Board may also suffer losses in case of India-Pakistan match not taking place. ICC earns the most in terms of sponsorship and broadcasting in almost every World Cup from the India-Pakistan match. If this match does not happen then this earning will slip from his hands, which will affect his revenue. If ICC’s revenue decreases then whatever money it distributes to other countries including India and Pakistan will also decrease.
Now for the richest board like BCCI, this amount will be very nominal but for Pakistan and other associate countries, it can prove to be a big loss. Not only this, the income from tickets for the India-Pakistan match has to go to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board because this match is to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Now if the match is cancelled, the money for the tickets already sold will have to be refunded and in such a situation the hands of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board will be left empty.