Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already announced the national squad for the tournament, final approval from the government is still pending. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday to discuss the issue. However, any decision to boycott the tournament-or even just the India fixture-could expose the PCB to serious legal and financial consequences.
Under the legally binding ICC Member Participation Agreement, all participating boards are required to fulfil their fixture commitments. A breach of this agreement would invite sanctions from the International Cricket Council, while forfeiting the India match could trigger a lawsuit from the host broadcaster, which relies heavily on the fixture’s commercial value.
According to a report by RevSportz, nearly $38 million in revenue is directly linked to the India-Pakistan match through advertising slots, sponsorships, and branded programming. Broadcasters are believed to be prepared to seek compensation if the fixture is not played, placing the PCB at risk of a costly legal dispute.
Following his meeting with the Prime Minister, Naqvi said a final decision on Pakistan’s participation would be taken either later this week or early next week. In a social media post, he said he had briefed the Prime Minister on the ICC-related implications and was advised to keep all options open.
While sections of Pakistani media have floated the idea of a boycott as a symbolic protest, analysts warn that such a move could result in severe financial losses and long-term reputational damage for Pakistan cricket, with the India match being one of the most commercially significant fixtures in global cricket.