What Will Happen If India Doesn’t Go To Sri Lanka After Pakistan Boycotts The Match?

The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the most complex and emotionally charged in the world. This rivalry has, over the years, spread from the realm of diplomacy and warfare to culture, films, and most importantly, cricket. It is the uniqueness of this rivalry that is not only about the competitiveness of the teams but also about the emotions that are associated with each and every match. The India-Pakistan matches have a huge following all over the world, and in many cases, the viewership even exceeds that of the World Cup finals.

But the recent decision of Pakistan to officially boycott its T20 World Cup match against India, which is scheduled for February 15, has left the entire cricketing world in shock. With Pakistan not participating in the match, the focus has shifted from the rivalry on the field to the implications of this unprecedented step that could be triggered by this decision. So, let’s explore some scenarios of what would happen if Pakistan sticks to its decision to boycott the upcoming India vs Pakistan match.

Al Jazeera

Pakistan decided to boycott the India vs Pakistan match of the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled for Feb 15

In a development that has left the international sports community in a state of shock, the Pakistan government has banned its national cricket team from playing against India in the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Although the team has been allowed to participate in the tournament, they are not allowed to take the field for the high-profile group stage match scheduled to take place on February 15, 2026, in Colombo.

This has been announced through an official post on the government’s social media handles on February 1, which reads:

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.

#ICCT20WORLDCUP | Pakistan will not play the match against India on February 15th, tweets Government of Pakistan pic.twitter.com/4dUN9Xi1EE

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2026

Although there is no single official reason that has been explained in the government order, there are a number of reasons that have been advanced by sources. One of the reasons is to demonstrate solidarity with Bangladesh. This is mainly because the ICC has decided to replace Bangladesh with Scotland following the latter’s refusal to travel to India due to security reasons. Another reason is the Indian influence on the ICC. The PCB has accused the ICC of double standards, claiming that the ICC has been controlled by the political interests of India through its chairman, Jay Shah.

Another reason is the border tensions between Pakistan and India. The recent attacks in Balochistan have further strained the diplomatic relations between the two countries, with the Pakistani government accusing India of the attack, an allegation that India has denied.

Pinterest

Advertisment

What would happen if Pakistan sticks to its decision till the end?

On the basis of the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan regarding the cricket match, the few cricketing and administrative situations that might arise if Pakistan goes ahead with the boycott on February 15 are as follows:

1. Immediate forfeit and walkover points

According to ICC playing rules, if a team fails to take the field, the match is awarded to the opposing team as a walkover.

• Point allocation: India will automatically get two points, which will greatly increase their prospects of making it to the Super 8s without having to bowl a single ball.
• Net Run Rate (NRR) damage: Pakistan will get zero points. Moreover, in the NRR calculation, the forfeiting team is normally deducted as if they have lost the match to the maximum extent, which might result in their elimination from the tournament even if they win their remaining matches in the group stages against teams such as Scotland or Ireland.

2. Harsh financial sanctions and revenue freezing

The ICC has a ‘Member Participation Agreement’ that requires countries to fulfill all scheduled matches. A selective boycott is considered a ‘material breach’ of the agreement.

• Withholding of funds: The ICC can withhold Pakistan’s share of annual revenue, pegged at USD 35 million (Rs 316 crore). This amount will be used to compensate broadcasters and sponsors for the loss of the most-watched match of the tournament.
• Legal action from broadcasters: Broadcasters such as JioStar, who pay billions for ICC broadcasting rights based on the assurance of India-Pakistan matches, are expected to make huge claims for compensation. The PCB may be liable for damages worth over USD 250 million.

3. International suspension

The most extreme case would be the ICC Board using Article 2 of their constitution, which refers to government interference and bringing the game into disrepute.

• Membership review: Pakistan could be subject to a temporary suspension of their international cricket, much like the suspension of Sri Lanka in 2024. This would exclude them from the rest of the 2026 World Cup and future ICC events.
• Loss of hosting rights: Pakistan is set to host future events; a boycott would certainly mean that hosting rights would be taken away and relocated to neutral sites such as the UAE or Sri Lanka.
• Player fallout: If the PCB is suspended, Pakistani players would not be able to play in international T20 leagues, as the ICC would not recognize their ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs).

What if the ICC convinces Pakistan to play against India?

The ICC convincing the PCB to reverse its boycott is the best-case scenario for international cricket. As of February 3, 2026, back-channel talks are reportedly underway. If this happens, it will bring back competitive fairness by not allowing walkover points awarded to India and a net run rate setback for Pakistan. Commercially, it will prevent huge losses for broadcasters and sponsors while also safeguarding Pakistan’s ICC revenue share. This will also ease pressure on players and bring back the India-Pakistan showdown for millions of fans.

Analysts say that a U-turn is still possible due to precedents set in the past. However, only time will tell us what will happen on 15th February. What do you think about this? Do share your thoughts with us in the comment section of this article.