Lahore: A high-level meeting between senior officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently underway in Lahore to discuss Pakistan’s decision to boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India.
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According to a statement issued by the PCB, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja at Gaddafi Stadium. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam is also in attendance at the meeting.
Imran Khwaja arrived in Lahore earlier for talks with the PCB leadership following Pakistan’s announcement that it would not play its scheduled World Cup match against India on February 15. Prior to this, the BCB president also reached Pakistan and held a separate meeting with Naqvi.
During his visit, Aminul Islam thanked Pakistan for supporting Bangladesh in its dispute with the ICC over the tournament. The two officials also exchanged views on the ongoing crisis affecting the event.
Sources said the BCB chief is expected to participate in an ICC emergency meeting, with other board members also likely to attend. The developments come amid escalating tensions after the PCB accused the ICC of adopting a biased approach, with Bangladesh playing a central role in the unfolding dispute.
Relations between the Bangladesh and Indian cricket boards deteriorated after Bangladesh’s star fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the reported directions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), triggering strong reactions in Dhaka. Subsequently, the BCB requested the ICC to shift its matches outside India, a plea that was rejected by the global governing body.
Following Bangladesh’s firm stance, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, citing the impracticality of altering the schedule so close to the February 7 start date.
Meanwhile, the PCB has dismissed Indian media reports claiming it had offered dialogue to the ICC to resolve the issue surrounding the India-Pakistan match. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir rejected these claims after Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta alleged that the PCB had reached out to the ICC for talks.
Any potential clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is considered one of the most lucrative fixtures in world cricket. Industry estimates place the commercial value of a single India-Pakistan T20 match at around $500 million (approximately INR45,000 crore), factoring in broadcast rights, sponsorships, advertising, ticket sales and related commercial activity.
Reports suggest that advertising slots during an India-Pakistan T20 match can cost between INR25 lakh and INR40 lakh for a 10-second slot, significantly higher than most other fixtures. The official broadcaster is expected to face the most immediate financial impact, as advertising revenue from the match alone is estimated at around INR300 crore.
The presence of the ICC deputy chairman in Lahore is also being viewed against earlier Indian media reports suggesting that the ICC was seeking back-channel negotiations with the PCB through Imran Khwaja to defuse the crisis.
