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ICC–PCB Talks in Lahore as Pakistan Awaits Govt Nod on India Match Boycott

Waqas Khaliq

A high-level meeting between officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was held on Sunday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to discuss Pakistan’s decision to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India scheduled for February 15.Sources said the outcome of the talks is likely to be announced only after receiving formal endorsement from the Government of Pakistan.ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khawaja arrived in Lahore earlier in the day and met PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The PCB confirmed his arrival in a post on X, stating that Khawaja was received at the airport by Amir Mir, adviser to the PCB chairman.Separately, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam also reached Lahore and held talks with Naqvi at Gaddafi Stadium regarding the “ongoing crisis” surrounding the T20 World Cup. The PCB said Islam thanked Pakistan for its “support” on the World Cup issue.Amir Mir and Pakistan Super League (PSL) CEO Salman Naseer, who is also an adviser to the PCB chairman, were present during the meeting. Naseer had earlier welcomed the BCB president at Lahore airport.These diplomatic engagements come a day after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup officially began, amid political tensions that have cast a shadow over the 20-team tournament.The controversy began after Bangladesh refused to play its matches in India citing security concerns. Following the ICC’s rejection of Bangladesh’s request to shift its fixtures to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the tournament.In response, Pakistan allowed its team to participate in the World Cup but announced it would not play the high-profile match against arch-rivals India, scheduled to take place in Colombo.Reacting to the development, the ICC stated that “selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event,” stressing that all qualified teams are expected to compete according to the tournament schedule.The ICC urged the PCB to consider the long-term implications of its stance, warning that the decision could impact the global cricket ecosystem, including Pakistan itself. It emphasized that the successful delivery of the T20 World Cup is the shared responsibility of all member boards.A government source told Dawn that Pakistan’s decision was aimed at expressing solidarity with Bangladesh and protesting what it termed the ICC’s “biased decision” against the BCB.“The government wanted to show solidarity with Bangladesh. Therefore, as a protest, the national team was restricted from playing its match with India scheduled for February 15,” the source said.India-Pakistan matches are among the most lucrative fixtures in world cricket, generating millions of dollars in broadcasting, sponsorship and advertising revenue. Reports earlier this week suggested the ICC had initiated back-channel efforts to resolve the dispute and avert major financial losses.Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has also urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision, warning that a boycott could cause financial damage and negatively affect Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, which is still recovering from the 2022 economic crisis.On the sporting front, Pakistan, who defeated the Netherlands in their tournament opener on Saturday, stand to lose two crucial points and suffer a significant dent to their net run rate if they forfeit the match against India.Pakistan captain Salman Agha has stated that if the Green Shirts face India in a semi-final or final, the team will once again consult the government before taking a decision.

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