With less than five days remaining for the T20 World Cup 2026 to begin, off-field issues have taken center stage. On February 2, the Pakistan government announced that its men’s cricket team will not play the group match against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
The decision was made public without any official explanation. More importantly, the Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet informed the International Cricket Council about the boycott. This has created uncertainty around one of the most important matches of the tournament, both from a sporting and financial point of view.
Financial Impact and ICC Concerns for Pakistan Cricket Board
The India Pakistan match is considered the biggest revenue generator in global cricket events. Broadcasters estimate that the game alone brings around Rs 300 crore through advertising, with overall match value crossing Rs 450 crore when television rights are included.
If the match does not take place, the PCB is expected to lose nearly Rs 200 crore from direct and indirect revenue. In addition, Pakistan earns around Rs 31 to 32 crore as an ICC revenue share, which could be at risk if the board is found to have violated participation agreements.
The ICC has already warned PCB about possible long-term consequences. Since a hybrid model for India Pakistan matches is already in place until 2027, a selective withdrawal may be difficult to justify. Sponsors and broadcasters are also closely watching the situation, as repeated uncertainty could affect Pakistan’s future commercial value.
Why BCCI Is Better Placed to Absorb the Loss
India will also face revenue losses if the match is called off, estimated at around Rs 200 crore. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has a strong financial cushion due to the Indian Premier League.
IPL broadcasting rights alone are valued at around Rs 14,669 crore per year. A single IPL match in 2026 is worth nearly Rs 175 crore from media rights, not including ticket sales and sponsorship income. This makes the loss from one India Pakistan match manageable for BCCI.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has travelled to Colombo for the tournament and will play its remaining fixtures. As of now, the PCB has not sent any formal communication to the ICC, meaning the India Pakistan match is still officially scheduled. The next few days will be critical in deciding whether the fixture goes ahead or leads to further complications.
