The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have entered discussions over the proposed boycott of Pakistan’s match against India on 15 February in Colombo.
The talks follow the PCB invoking the Force Majeure clause and citing a government order, raising questions about the legitimacy of the move.
The situation escalated after the PCB formally notified the ICC of its intent to boycott the game and highlighted the potential damages the ICC could claim for any act of non-compliance. According to sources close to the matter, the ICC responded with queries regarding the Force Majeure clause in the Terms of Participation and asked the PCB to demonstrate what steps it had taken to mitigate the claim.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has allowed the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup but has prohibited them from taking part in the match against India. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has also urged Pakistan to reconsider. In a letter to the PCB, SLC warned that cancelling the India-Pakistan clash would result in significant financial losses from ticketing and hospitality sales, while also impacting the overall reputation of the tournament.
A source told PTI that Pakistan maintains close and friendly ties with Sri Lanka at both governmental and cricketing levels, and that the PCB cannot ignore SLC’s communication. Shammi Silva, president of Sri Lanka Cricket, reportedly contacted PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, reminding him of the importance of Pakistan’s support. Naqvi assured Silva that he would consult the government and provide a decision promptly. Reports suggesting Pakistan had rejected Sri Lanka’s request are incorrect.
Mohsin Naqvi, who has been out of the country since yesterday, is expected to return today. He is set to bring the issue of ending the boycott to the Prime Minister’s attention, with a final decision likely by Monday.
Last November, the Sri Lankan government had supported Pakistan during a series when security concerns led some players to consider returning home. The government and the cricket board ensured that the white-ball series was completed.
Citing similar security concerns, Bangladesh refused to play in the World Cup matches in India, and the ICC allowed Scotland to take their place. The PCB has stated that this decision was unfair to Bangladesh, and both the Pakistan Prime Minister and PCB Chief Patron Shahbaz Sharif have confirmed that the boycott against India was partly in solidarity with Bangladesh.
