Lahore buzzed with urgency as top cricket officials convened for a marathon five-hour summit at Gaddafi Stadium, deliberating the fate of the India-Pakistan showdown in the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. The PCB has set a 24-hour deadline to decide on participating in the February 15 group-stage encounter, amid a brewing controversy over Pakistan’s stance on playing with India in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Key figures including PCB head Mohsin Naqvi, ICC’s Imran Khwaja, and BCB’s Aminul Islam hashed out solutions to avert a potential boycott. The meeting highlighted the ICC’s proactive role in bridging divides, with Bangladesh’s involvement signaling a push for consensus among boards.
Insiders note similarities in positions between Pakistan and Bangladesh on core concerns. The stakes couldn’t be higher: this marquee matchup fuels the lion’s share of T20 World Cup revenues through global TV deals, sponsorships, and unprecedented audience pull. Any disruption risks devaluing these assets, leading to reduced payouts for all participating nations.
This isn’t the first time politics intersects with play; PCB’s initial boycott declaration on February 2 followed advice from PM Shehbaz Sharif. With government consultation likely again, the coming hours will determine if one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries lights up the field or fades into uncertainty, reshaping the tournament’s commercial landscape.