PCB could make a U-turn on their India game boycott two days before the marquee clash: Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sparked a major controversy after the Pakistan government decided to boycott their match against their arch-rivals India in the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, scheduled on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo.

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Notably, this decision was announced on Sunday after PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi met the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, a PTI report has revealed that the PCB could make a U-turn on its stance two days before their group stage fixture against India. 

Interestingly, PCB hasn’t officially informed their boycott decision to the ICC. The PTI report mentioned that Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister of Pakistan might just make a U-turn once the general elections are held in Bangladesh on February 12.

"Naqvi more than a cricket administrator is a politician, who is not one bit bothered about the welfare of the national team. He is trying to score a brownie point with this and could well flip once elections are held on February 12,” PTI quoted a source, tracking Pakistan cricket, as saying.

"There would still be two days before the India game and things could just change. Else he knows that Pakistan could be ostracised," the source added.

The International Cricket Council issued a strong statement in response to Pakistan’s announcement of boycotting the India game in the mega event, requesting the PCB to seek a mutually acceptable resolution.

"While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule," the ICC said.

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"The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country, as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of," it added.

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