PCB Under Pressure As Sri Lanka Flags Economic Fallout Of India Match Boycott, Sends Reminder: 'We Supported Them'

Pressure continues to mount on Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) amid uncertainty over their team’s ICC T20 World Cup clash with India. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has written to PCB, informing them of the severe financial impact should they forfeit their match on February 15.

Pakistan’s government recently announced that their men’s cricket team won’t take the field for their Group A match against India in Colombo next week. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said the decision has been made in support of solidarity with Bangladesh after they were ejected from the World Cup for refusing to travel to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns.

The ICC has also opened back-channel talks with PCB, hoping for a positive outcome.

SLC secretary Bandula Dissanayake

has told PCB what Sri Lanka stands to lose should the game not be held and reminded them how they’ve supported Pakistan in the past.

“We (SLC) have informed them of the economic impact in case of a forfeiture,” Dissanayake said. “We have told them to consider what Sri Lanka stands to lose in case the match doesn’t go ahead. There are a lot of stakeholders who will be directly and indirectly affected if the match doesn’t go ahead,” Dissanayake told The Indian Express.

“We have reminded them about how we have supported them in the past as well. From the demand for tickets, it was evident that we were going to receive a huge boost economically as people who turn up for the fixture will definitely spend a few more days exploring the country. So it is a huge loss for everyone. It is a grim picture,” he added.

SLC was reportedly banking on India-Pakistan fixture for a windfall after tickets for the marquee fixture were sold out in minutes. Prices for hotel rooms jumped from USD 45 to USD 60.

However, there are now reports of hotel rooms in Colombo being cancelled since Pakistan announced the boycott of their world cup match against India.