India vs Pakistan match still on? Pak board, ICC in talks over boycott threat
T20 World Cup 2026: The Pakistan Cricket Board has agreed to engage in further dialogue with the International Cricket Council after the global body questioned the Force Majeure clause invoked to justify boycotting the February 15 match against India in Colombo.
A glimmer of hope that the India–Pakistan clash will go ahead as scheduled on February 15? Perhaps. But the off-field drama at the T20 World Cup shows no signs of fading, even as the tournament got underway across India and Sri Lanka on February 7.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally received official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) outlining the Pakistan government’s decision to boycott the February 15 match against India — a move that has opened the door for further dialogue between the two bodies.
Sources familiar with the matter say the ICC has approached the issue in line with how it has handled similar sensitive situations in the past, prioritising process, precedent and engagement over confrontation. The focus, it is understood, has been on safeguarding the sanctity of the T20 World Cup while keeping player welfare, fan interest and organisational fairness at the centre of its decision-making.
The sequence of events began after the Pakistan government publicly announced that its team would not take the field against India despite agreeing to play the rest of the tournament. Shortly afterwards, the PCB formally wrote to the ICC invoking the ‘Force Majeure’ clause, attaching the government’s public statement but offering no additional explanation or justification.
That move prompted a measured yet firm response from the ICC. Rather than dismissing the claim outright, the world body asked the PCB to explain how Force Majeure could apply to a single fixture while participation in the remaining matches continued. The ICC also sought clarity on what steps Pakistan had taken to mitigate the situation — including whether alternatives were explored, exemptions sought or solutions proposed before opting for non-participation.
Following receipt of the ICC’s detailed response, the PCB has since reached out to initiate further dialogue. An ICC official confirmed that discussions are currently underway in a structured manner to explore possible resolutions.
Notably, Pakistan delayed formally writing to the ICC, allowing speculation to dominate for several days after the Pakistan government first tweeted about the proposed boycott. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the government’s stance last week, further underlining the political dimension of the issue.
WHAT IS FORCE MAJEURE?
Force majeure is a contractual provision that excuses a party from fulfilling its obligations due to extraordinary events beyond its control, such as war, natural disasters or government action.
To invoke it, the affected party must demonstrate that the event was unavoidable, directly prevented performance, and that all reasonable steps were taken to mitigate its impact. In sporting contracts, an unjustified invocation of force majeure can carry serious legal and commercial consequences.
In its communication to the PCB, the ICC outlined the high evidentiary threshold required to justify non-participation, the conditions under which the clause can be legitimately triggered, and the wider sporting, commercial and governance implications of such a step. Sources say the PCB was also made aware that an invalid invocation could expose it to damages, sanctions and potential breach-of-contract claims.
Last week, while awaiting formal confirmation from the PCB, the ICC also flagged the long-term implications of such a move, including its potential impact on the global cricket ecosystem.
Despite the firm tone of its response, the ICC has kept channels of dialogue open and is continuing to engage with the PCB in a structured manner, with the view that the interests of the game must supersede unilateral action.
Only on Friday, a report claimed that the PCB was willing to consult its government over its boycott stance after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wrote to Pakistan, urging it to reconsider the decision and detailing the potential financial impact a boycott could have on the host nation.
HOW MUCH WILL THE ICC LOSE IN CASE OF A BOYCOTT?
An India–Pakistan World Cup clash generates revenue to the tune of Rs 2,200 crore, according to news agency PTI.
If Pakistan remain adamant, they risk losing millions in revenues, while a no-show would also inflict significant financial damage on the ICC and India’s media rights holder, JioStar, which is already attempting to renegotiate a USD 3 billion deal with the world body.
The host broadcaster could face advertisement revenue losses ranging from Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for a marquee fixture where a 10-second commercial slot can cost up to Rs 40 lakh.
WILL INDIA TRAVEL TO COLOMBO?
India Today has learnt from reliable top sources that the Indian team will proceed as per schedule for the match. This includes travelling to Sri Lanka, as planned, had the fixture gone ahead in the normal course.
The team will also continue with their training schedule and fulfil pre-match media commitments. India are expected to arrive at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on time and will wait for the match referee’s decision should Pakistan fail to turn up for the game.
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A glimmer of hope that the India–Pakistan clash will go ahead as scheduled on February 15? Perhaps. But the off-field drama at the T20 World Cup shows no signs of fading, even as the tournament got underway across India and Sri Lanka on February 7.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally received official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) outlining the Pakistan government’s decision to boycott the February 15 match against India — a move that has opened the door for further dialogue between the two bodies.
Sources familiar with the matter say the ICC has approached the issue in line with how it has handled similar sensitive situations in the past, prioritising process, precedent and engagement over confrontation. The focus, it is understood, has been on safeguarding the sanctity of the T20 World Cup while keeping player welfare, fan interest and organisational fairness at the centre of its decision-making.
The sequence of events began after the Pakistan government publicly announced that its team would not take the field against India despite agreeing to play the rest of the tournament. Shortly afterwards, the PCB formally wrote to the ICC invoking the ‘Force Majeure’ clause, attaching the government’s public statement but offering no additional explanation or justification.
That move prompted a measured yet firm response from the ICC. Rather than dismissing the claim outright, the world body asked the PCB to explain how Force Majeure could apply to a single fixture while participation in the remaining matches continued. The ICC also sought clarity on what steps Pakistan had taken to mitigate the situation — including whether alternatives were explored, exemptions sought or solutions proposed before opting for non-participation.
Following receipt of the ICC’s detailed response, the PCB has since reached out to initiate further dialogue. An ICC official confirmed that discussions are currently underway in a structured manner to explore possible resolutions.
Notably, Pakistan delayed formally writing to the ICC, allowing speculation to dominate for several days after the Pakistan government first tweeted about the proposed boycott. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the government’s stance last week, further underlining the political dimension of the issue.
WHAT IS FORCE MAJEURE?
Force majeure is a contractual provision that excuses a party from fulfilling its obligations due to extraordinary events beyond its control, such as war, natural disasters or government action.
To invoke it, the affected party must demonstrate that the event was unavoidable, directly prevented performance, and that all reasonable steps were taken to mitigate its impact. In sporting contracts, an unjustified invocation of force majeure can carry serious legal and commercial consequences.
In its communication to the PCB, the ICC outlined the high evidentiary threshold required to justify non-participation, the conditions under which the clause can be legitimately triggered, and the wider sporting, commercial and governance implications of such a step. Sources say the PCB was also made aware that an invalid invocation could expose it to damages, sanctions and potential breach-of-contract claims.
Last week, while awaiting formal confirmation from the PCB, the ICC also flagged the long-term implications of such a move, including its potential impact on the global cricket ecosystem.
Despite the firm tone of its response, the ICC has kept channels of dialogue open and is continuing to engage with the PCB in a structured manner, with the view that the interests of the game must supersede unilateral action.
Only on Friday, a report claimed that the PCB was willing to consult its government over its boycott stance after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wrote to Pakistan, urging it to reconsider the decision and detailing the potential financial impact a boycott could have on the host nation.
HOW MUCH WILL THE ICC LOSE IN CASE OF A BOYCOTT?
An India–Pakistan World Cup clash generates revenue to the tune of Rs 2,200 crore, according to news agency PTI.
If Pakistan remain adamant, they risk losing millions in revenues, while a no-show would also inflict significant financial damage on the ICC and India’s media rights holder, JioStar, which is already attempting to renegotiate a USD 3 billion deal with the world body.
The host broadcaster could face advertisement revenue losses ranging from Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for a marquee fixture where a 10-second commercial slot can cost up to Rs 40 lakh.
WILL INDIA TRAVEL TO COLOMBO?
India Today has learnt from reliable top sources that the Indian team will proceed as per schedule for the match. This includes travelling to Sri Lanka, as planned, had the fixture gone ahead in the normal course.
The team will also continue with their training schedule and fulfil pre-match media commitments. India are expected to arrive at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on time and will wait for the match referee’s decision should Pakistan fail to turn up for the game.
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