ICC pushes back against PCB’s demands as Pakistan rethinks its threat to boycott the India match in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan’s plan to boycott its T20 World Cup clash against India appears to be facing hurdles, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) reportedly maintained a firm stance against the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demands. A three-way meeting between the PCB, ICC and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was held Sunday evening in Lahore to discuss the impasse.
According to The Telecom Asia, PCB’s key demands included the resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket, higher revenue shares and guarantees that incidents like the infamous no-handshake controversy would not recur.
In addition, Dawn reports that PCB requested financial compensation for Bangladesh after its early exit from the T20 World Cup. Other issues on the table included participation fees for Bangladesh and Pakistan’s hosting rights for future ICC events. The ICC, however, told BCB that while it could not provide direct compensation, Bangladesh would still receive its full share of ICC earnings.
PCB also raised concerns about what it perceives as the growing influence of India’s BCCI over ICC decisions. Sources indicate that PCB viewed this as politicisation affecting cricket governance. The boycott of the India match, the sources added, was intended as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh following what Pakistan deemed a “biased” ICC decision.
ICC officials warned that pulling out of the India fixture could have long-term consequences for Pakistan cricket and the global cricket ecosystem.
The meeting, attended by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, BCB’s Aminul Islam, ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja and Associate Members’ representative Mubashir Usmani, lasted four hours. No joint statement was issued, with both boards expected to seek government approval before making an announcement.
Published: 09 Feb 2026, 03:59 pm IST
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