In a significant development in international cricket governance, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has firmly turned down three major demands put forward by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This decision comes amid escalating tensions as Pakistan threatens to boycott their match against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
Reports indicate that the PCB had been in discussions with the ICC, seeking reconsiderations on their boycott stance. The first demand was for a bilateral series between India and Pakistan, even under the World Test Championship cycle. ICC dismissed this outright, stating it falls outside their jurisdiction over bilateral matters.
Undeterred, PCB proposed a tri-series involving India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to ease tensions. This too was rejected decisively by the ICC, which emphasized its focus on multilateral events rather than facilitating such arrangements.
Supporting Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), PCB also demanded that India tour Bangladesh later this year for a postponed series. ICC reiterated its non-interference policy in bilateral scheduling, leaving the boards to resolve it independently.
Another point raised was compensation for Bangladesh after last year’s Women’s T20 World Cup was shifted from Dhaka to Dubai. While PCB pushed for an ICC event as remedy, discussions hinted at awarding Bangladesh the next Under-19 World Cup hosting rights.
PCB insisted on ensuring Bangladesh’s continued share in ICC revenue, but ICC had already decided against penalizing BCB separately. With the clock ticking, ICC’s governing body gave PCB 24 hours to decide, but the final call now rests with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. PCB chairman is set to meet him Monday evening, with expectations of a swift resolution.
This standoff highlights ongoing geopolitical frictions affecting cricket, potentially reshaping future tournament participations and board relations.