Pakistan Demand Bilateral Series With India As Condition For T20 World Cup Participation, ICC Declines – Report
The Pakistan Cricket Board presented multiple conditions to the International Cricket Council in a marathon meeting on Sunday regarding their position on the upcoming T20 World Cup fixture against India on February 15. The ICC turned down three key proposals, including requests for restarting bilateral cricket between the two nations and organizing a tri-nation tournament featuring Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.
ICC officials have given PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi 24 hours to hold discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and communicate the board’s final position. An official statement concerning the India-Pakistan encounter is anticipated either late Monday or Tuesday morning from the global cricket body.
Sunday’s marathon discussion stretched beyond five hours, with Mohsin Naqvi who doubles as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja in attendance. Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul also made the journey to Lahore for the deliberations, particularly significant given that Pakistan was the sole member nation opposing Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup after the BCB declined to travel to India for their scheduled matches.
Pakistan’s government announced through social media on February 1 that it would not authorize the senior men’s team to face India in the T20 World Cup, though no detailed explanation accompanied the statement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif subsequently explained the move as solidarity with Bangladesh while alleging biased treatment by the ICC.
Five Conditions Presented to ICC
Pakistan placed a total of five conditions before the ICC. Central to the PCB’s negotiations has been the perceived unjust handling of Bangladesh by the global body.
The opening demand called for Bangladesh to avoid penalties for withdrawing from the T20 World Cup and to retain its complete ICC revenue allocation a matter the ICC had already independently settled.
The second proposal urged the ICC to award Bangladesh a compensatory global tournament following the relocation of last year’s Women’s T20 World Cup from Bangladesh to Dubai amid domestic turmoil. An Under-19 World Cup during the upcoming cycle was floated as a potential option.
Pakistan’s third demand sought ICC intervention to facilitate the resumption of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan. The ICC dismissed this request, emphasizing that bilateral fixtures remain beyond its purview, including those within the World Test Championship structure.
Similarly rejected was the proposition for an India-Pakistan-Bangladesh tri-nation series. The ICC maintained identical reasoning for declining Pakistan’s demand that India complete a postponed 2025 tour of Bangladesh later this year, stating such bilateral or trilateral commitments fall outside its mandate.
The ICC has maintained ongoing communication with the PCB following the board’s formal notification about the Pakistan government’s decision to boycott the February 15 India clash. The ICC’s reply requested the PCB to explain any force majeure clause invocation while encouraging reconsideration of the boycott position.
India’s Colombo Plans Remain Unchanged
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has not released any official comment but is understood to be waiting for formal ICC correspondence on the developing situation.
Senior sources confirm the Indian squad will operate entirely according to ICC guidelines. The team plans to travel to Sri Lanka as originally scheduled and maintain regular pre-match routines, including practice sessions and the required pre-match media briefing. India will reach the R Premadasa Stadium at the appointed match-day time and await the match referee’s decision on abandoning the fixture if Pakistan opts not to appear.
Financial Implications of Pakistan Withdrawal
The India-Pakistan fixture stands as cricket’s most commercially valuable match, generating approximately Rs 2,200 crore in revenue, according to PTI.
Leveraging this commercial appeal, the ICC has consistently grouped both teams together at every major tournament since 2012, despite deteriorating diplomatic ties that have prevented bilateral cricket for 14 years.
Should Pakistan maintain their withdrawal stance, they face potential losses running into millions while inflicting substantial financial harm on ICC revenues. The host broadcaster could suffer advertisement income losses between Rs 200 crore and Rs 250 crore for this marquee encounter, where a 10-second advertisement slot commands up to Rs 40 lakh.
Pakistan has also acknowledged correspondence from Sri Lanka Cricket to the PCB. The communication from Sri Lanka Cricket indicated that the cancellation of the February 15 high-profile match between the traditional rivals would result in financial setbacks for SLC while damaging both the organization and the tournament’s reputation in the island nation, which is co-hosting the event with India.