Sri Lanka Cricket Urges PCB to Reconsider Boycott of India Match at T20 World Cup، Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially written to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), urging Pakistan to rethink its decision to boycott the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to be played in Colombo on February 15, but Pakistan has signalled it will forfeit the game due to ongoing diplomatic tensions with India.
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Pleas from Sri Lanka Cricket
In its letter, SLC reminded the PCB of the strong sporting ties between the two boards, including Sri Lanka’s willingness to tour Pakistan in difficult times when other teams were hesitant due to security concerns. The board also called attention to the commercial, operational, and security arrangements already finalised for the match, and urged Pakistan to rethink its stance for the benefit of the tournament and cricket fans worldwide.
Warnings About Financial & Tourism Impact
Sri Lanka Cricket warned that a boycott of the fixture could result in major financial losses, not just for the host board but also for partners, broadcasters and local businesses that depend on tourism and event revenues. The board highlighted its preparedness to host the sell-out fixture, including ticket sales and hospitality plans, all of which could be affected if the match does not take place.
Officials noted that the loss of expected tourism inflows and broadcast income would have a broad economic impact on Sri Lanka, especially since the country is still recovering financially.
PCB Response and Wider Context
The PCB has acknowledged SLC’s request but has not yet changed its position, with initial responses indicating that the letter has been received and is being reviewed. Pakistan’s government has previously taken a firm stance that national policy considerations, including solidarity with Bangladesh over a separate security dispute with India, underlie its intention to skip the fixture.
The India-Pakistan clash is among the most commercially valuable and widely watched fixtures in cricket, and its potential cancellation has prompted wider discussions within the global cricket community about politics in sport and tournament integrity.
Tournament Outlook
Pakistan is still scheduled to play its other group matches, beginning with a clash against the Netherlands, while India will start the tournament against the USA on their opening day. However, if both teams were to meet later in the tournament — for example in the knockout stages — Pakistan has indicated it would again seek government guidance on participation.
