The Pakistan Cricket Board will consult the government after Sri Lanka formally asked it to withdraw its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup group match against India, with talks expected once PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi returns home.
Pakistan have already confirmed they will not play India in the group stage despite featuring in the tournament. The government announced the decision last week, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly backed it soon after.
The match, scheduled for 15 February in Colombo, sits at the heart of the tournament’s commercial pull. Without it, Sri Lanka Cricket face heavy financial losses tied to ticket sales, hospitality and broadcast interest.
That reality drove Sri Lanka’s intervention. Their board wrote directly to the PCB, urging them to reconsider and stressing the wider damage to the event if its biggest fixture disappears.
Pakistan have not dismissed the appeal. Sources say Sri Lanka’s close political and cricketing ties with Pakistan pushed the PCB to treat the request seriously rather than ignore it.
“Pakistan and Sri Lanka share a very close and friendly relationship at both cricketing and government level,” one source said. “So the email sent by the Sri Lanka board cannot simply be brushed aside.”
Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva contacted Mohsin Naqvi personally. He reminded him that Pakistan’s support matters now, because the absence of an India–Pakistan match would hit Sri Lanka’s revenue streams hard.
“Shammi Silva directly contacted Mohsin Naqvi and reminded him that Pakistan need to stand by Sri Lanka at this moment,” the source added. “If the Pakistan–India match does not happen, Sri Lanka Cricket will lose income from ticket sales and hospitality.”
Reports on Friday claimed the PCB had already rejected Sri Lanka’s request. Those claims do not hold up, according to the same sources, who insist no final decision exists yet.
“PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been out of the country since yesterday and is due to return today,” the source said. “He will place Sri Lanka’s email about withdrawing the India boycott before the Prime Minister, and a decision will be taken by Monday.”
