Sri Lanka Calls on Pakistan to Rethink India Boycott at T20 World Cup 2026

The Sri Lankan cricket board has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rethink its decision of boycotting the match against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. They have written a letter to the PCB in which it is stated that a boycott of the marquee clash against India could cause a major financial setback for Sri Lankan cricket.

The Sri Lankan board also urged the PCB to take the relationship between the two boards into account when making any decision. The urgent letter underscores that Pakistan’s decision to boycott the upcoming match has raised serious concerns within Sri Lanka’s cricket administration.

"Any non-participation will have wide-ranging implications, including substantial financial exposure for SLC and the potential loss of anticipated tourism inflows," the SLC stated.

"We urge you to take into account the exceptional circumstances, the enduring relationship between our two boards, and the broader interests of the game of cricket." added the SLC statement.

The decision of Pakistan to boycott the match against the archrivals has sent shockwaves in the cricket world. Everyone understands the financial value of India vs Pakistan games in ICC events, so a boycott could seriously disrupt the expected revenue of the tournaments. On a broader scale, the ICC itself could face a major setback, which could then affect other boards under its umbrella.

Meanwhile, the government of Pakistan has taken a firm stance that politics in sports cannot be tolerated. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself addressed the situation, stating that the government has made an “appropriate decision” on the matter.

"We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India," said Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

"There should be no politics in sports. We have taken this stand after deliberating on it carefully," added Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.