The Pakistan men's cricket team has landed in Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, even as uncertainty continues to swirl around their participation in the highly anticipated group-stage clash against India.
The 15-member squad, captained by Salman Ali Agha, arrived in Colombo on Monday amid intense scrutiny following the Pakistani government's directive advising the team not to take the field against India.
Pakistan's immediate focus, however, remains on preparations for the tournament. The players have been granted a rest day on Tuesday before taking on Ireland in their lone warm-up match on Wednesday at the Sinhalese Sports Club. The venue will also host three of Pakistan's Group A fixtures during the competition.
Drawn in a challenging
group, Pakistan will face defending champions India, along with the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia. The former champions begin their World Cup campaign on February 7 against the Netherlands, with qualification for the next stage firmly on their radar.
Despite the team's arrival and match preparations continuing as scheduled, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself in a precarious position. The ICC has reportedly urged the PCB to reconsider the government-backed decision to boycott the India fixture, warning that refusal could lead to serious long-term consequences. Should Pakistan stick to their stance, they risk substantial financial losses, with millions in revenue potentially at stake.
The fallout would not be limited to the PCB alone. A no-show for the India-Pakistan match could deal a major blow to the ICC and the tournament's broadcast ecosystem. India's media rights holder, JioStar, is already seeking to renegotiate a USD 3 billion agreement, and the absence of cricket's biggest rivalry could further complicate matters. Industry estimates suggest that the broadcaster could lose between ₹200 crore and ₹250 crore in advertising revenue, with premium 10-second ad slots priced as high as ₹40 lakh.
Several former Pakistan captains and ex-internationals, including Shahid Afridi, Muhammad Yousuf, Rashid Latif, Moin Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Mohsin Khan, have publicly backed the decision to boycott the India game.
