Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup 2026 match: What we know so far

2026-02-09 - 04:06

ISLAMABAD – Next 24 hours are crucial for a decision on upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 match between Pakistan and India as top guns have put their heads together to find a workable solution over Bangladesh issue. What’s the Issue? Pakistan had announced it would not play the match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were excluded from the tournament after refusing to travel to India for their matches due to security reasons. Bangladesh had requested that their matches be moved to Sri Lanka. The ICC rejected this request, opting instead to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. In response, Pakistan refused to play its scheduled match against India. ICC Tries to Woo Pakistan A day earlier, International Cricket Council (ICC) Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja travelled to Pakistan to hold meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam was also present in the meeting. Though the PCB only shared updates about the meeting without any inside details, the insiders informed that the BCB chief thanked his Pakistani counterpart for the unconditional full support and standing with Bangladesh on the issue. During the discussion on the ongoing crises, Mohsin Naqvi informed the ICC deputy chief that the decision of boycotting India-match was taken by the government, and as such, the PCB could not do anything except to follow the directions. Meanwhile, the PCB has also rejected the claims of Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta that the PCB had approached the ICC for a dialogue to resolve the issue. “I categorically reject the claim by Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta that PCB approached the ICC. As usual, sections of the Indian media are busy circulating fiction. A little patience and time will clearly show who actually went knocking and who didn’t,” PCB Spokesperson Amir Mir stated in a post on X. Sources indicate that the ICC responded positively to the BCB’s concerns, and a formula to address these issues has been prepared. Imran Khawaja has now left to seek final approval for the proposal, while BCB President Aminul Islam has returned to brief his government. The sources also revealed that ICC and BCB are expected to reconnect this afternoon to further discuss the issue and work towards a mutual agreement. ECB Asks Pakistan to Reconsider Decision to Boycott India Match The Emirates Cricket Board has followed in Sri Lanka’s footsteps, requesting Pakistan to reconsider its decision not to play against India on February 15 during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Reports said ECB reached out to PB, urging them to review the decision to boycott the match against India. The Emirati Board has recommended that the decision be made in the best interest of cricket. This move follows a similar request from Sri Lanka, which had previously urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision to boycott the match against India in the upcoming World Cup. Sri Lanka Cricket had formally written to the PCB, pointing out that the cancellation of the high-profile match between the traditional rivals, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, would result in significant financial losses for Sri Lanka Cricket. Expected Meeting Between PM Shehbaz, Naqvi In light of the ICC’s request to reconsider the decision, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has decided to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the matter. During this meeting, Naqvi will seek the Prime Minister’s instructions regarding the ICC’s request. Sources indicate that the final decision on whether Pakistan will play against India in the T20 World Cup will rest with PM Shehbaz Sharif. The matter, which has significant political and financial implications, will be settled once the Prime Minister provides his directive. Estimated Financial Loss The highly anticipated Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup match, one of the most lucrative fixtures in world cricket, could result in significant financial losses in broadcast and advertising if it is not played as scheduled. Experts estimate that the forfeit could lead to a loss of up to $50 million in broadcast and advertising revenue alone, which would severely impact the tournament’s financials. According to Indian media, the advertisement rates for an India-Pakistan T20 match are some of the highest in the industry, with premiums ranging between Rs 25 lakh to Rs 40 lakh in Indian rupees per 10 seconds. This means that simply the loss of advertising revenue from the match could exceed Rs 200 crore Indian rupees, making it one of the most financially damaging forfeitures in cricket history. Pakistan vs India Match Schedule As per the ICC schedule, the match between Pakistan and Indian will be played on February 15 (Sunday).