ISLAMABAD: The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider its decision to boycott the match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
According to foreign media reports, Sri Lanka Cricket has sent an official letter to the PCB, warning that if the Pakistan-India match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo is canceled, Sri Lanka may face huge financial losses.
The Sri Lankan board has pointed out in its message that this high-profile match is not only the centre of attention of cricket fans but also provides significant economic benefits to the host country. The letter states that in the absence of the competition, the expected income from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and tourism activities may decrease. Sri Lanka Cricket further said that the absence of any team would have far-reaching consequences, including financial losses as well as a reduction in the number of fans and tourists visiting the country.
The board did not limit the matter to just one match but linked it to the wider cricketing interest and requested Pakistan to reconsider the decision. The letter further said that, considering the long-standing relationship between the cricket boards of the two countries and the current exceptional circumstances, Pakistan should reconsider to avoid any loss to the tournament and the host country.
This development comes after the decision of the Pakistan government under which the national team has been barred from taking the field against India in the T20 World Cup, which has created uncertainty over the biggest competition of the event. It should be noted that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, while Pakistan will play all its group matches in Colombo.
