Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will make the final call on whether Pakistan will play or continue its boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, sources told Geo News on Monday.
According to the sources, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister today to brief him on discussions held with the International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation. Pakistan had previously decided to boycott its World Cup 2026 fixture against India in solidarity with Bangladesh, who withdrew from the tournament citing security concerns and refused to send their team to New Delhi.
World Cup 2026: Meeting Between PCB, ICC, and BCB
The day before, a five-hour meeting took place involving PCB, ICC, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), with Naqvi, BCB President Aminul Islam, and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja in attendance. The sources said the ICC responded positively to Bangladesh’s demands and that a framework to address the BCB’s concerns has been drafted. During the talks, ICC and BCB exchanged proposals while the PCB acted as the primary coordinator.
The ICC’s deputy chief Khwaja has returned to the cricket body’s headquarters for final approval of the proposals, while BCB President Islam has headed back to Dhaka to brief officials there. Once approved, ICC and BCB representatives will reconvene later today to finalize the next steps.
World Cup 2026: Background ICC-BCB Dispute
Tensions arose between India and Bangladesh cricket boards after Bangladesh’s pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL at the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), prompting strong reactions in Dhaka. Subsequently, the BCB requested the ICC to relocate its World Cup 2026 matches outside India, a request that was denied.
Following Bangladesh’s firm stance, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, citing scheduling constraints ahead of the February 7 start date. In response, the PCB decided to boycott its World Cup 2026 match against India, expressing concerns of bias against Bangladesh.
World Cup 2026: Financial Implications of an India-Pakistan Clash
Matches between India and Pakistan are among the most commercially lucrative in cricket, generating millions in broadcast rights, sponsorships, advertising, and ticket sales. Industry estimates suggest a single India-Pakistan World Cup 2026 T20 match could be worth around $500 million (approximately INR 45,000 crore) in total commercial activity.
Advertising slots during such a fixture command INR 25–40 lakh for just 10 seconds, far exceeding rates for knockout matches involving India and other top teams. The immediate financial impact would primarily affect the official broadcast rights holder, with advertising revenue from the India-Pakistan World Cup 2026 match alone projected at around INR 300 crore.