New Delhi: A Pakistani news channel was caught spreading blatant lies as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) prepares to face ICC’s wrath amid their stance to boycott the marquee clash against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. ICC has warned Pakistan of ‘significant, long-term implications’ if they go ahead with the boycott call.
As the standoff between the ICC and PCB intensifies, Pakistan media has been making all efforts to project that they have an upper hand in the negotiations. During a panel discussion on Pakistani channel ARY News, it was claimed that ICC chairman Jay Shah and CEO Sanjog Gupta rushed to Mumbai to conduct an emergency meeting after Pakistan’s boycott threat.
Nauman Niaz, a Pakistani cricket expert who often appears in YouTube shows with Pakistani cricketers, including former wicket-keeper Rashid Latif, made the baseless claim during the show. Trying to project that ICC is in panic mode, Niaz said Shah and Gupta rushed to conduct a meeting with the official broadcaster – JioStar in Mumbai amid concerns over potential revenue loss if there is no India-Pakistan game in the T20 World Cup 2026.
“I have breaking news that Jay Shah, who is the ICC chair, Sanjog Gopta, the CEO and the head of the digital project of the BCCI, have convened in Mumbai. Why? Because the official broadcasters cannot afford not to have the India vs Pakistan match. Lastly, if I have to wind up, they are worried that if the India-Pakistan game doesn’t happen, forget broadcasting rights, it’s also about their economy,” Niaz said on the show.
However, his claims were far from the actual truth.
Dr. Noman Niaz has dropped a big news update.
pic.twitter.com/sOXuJ2pbrj— Azam-K (@MusafirNagri) February 3, 2026
Jay Shah and Sanjog Gupta in Milan for IOC session
Contrary to the claims made by Niaz on the Pakistani news channel, ICC chairman Shah and CEO Gupta are currently in Milan, Italy to attend an International Olympic Committee (IOC) session, ahead of cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics. Cricket Germany confirmed the same as they shared a picture of their president, Severin Weiß, posing with Shah and Gupta in Milan.
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Earlier, multiple reports had claimed that ICC had planned a board meeting to discuss Pakistan’s decision to boycott the India game on February 15. However, no such meeting has been planned as ICC is yet to receive official communication from the PCB regarding their final decision on the matter. ICC can impose strict sanctions on Pakistan if they refuse to take part in the India clash.
A PCB source told news agency PTI that boycotting the India game can lead to financial penalties and legal action from broadcasters against the Pakistan board. While there has been no official statement from PCB, ICC is expected to seek clarity from the board with less than two weeks left for the marquee clash to be played in Colombo.