Pakistan has told the International Cricket Council it is willing to reconsider its boycott of the India match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but only if three key demands are met, NDTV reported on Monday.
Quoting sources, NDTV said the Pakistan Cricket Board raised the demands during a meeting with International Cricket Council officials in Lahore, as tensions continue over Pakistan’s refusal to play India in the tournament.
According to the report, the PCB’s demands include increased financial compensation for Bangladesh, a guaranteed participation fee for Bangladesh despite its removal from the tournament, and hosting rights for a future ICC event.
NDTV said Pakistan had earlier decided to boycott the high-profile clash against India, despite warnings from the ICC about potential consequences. While some PCB officials are reportedly open to playing the match, scheduled for Feb. 15 in Colombo, board chairman Mohsin Naqvi is said to remain firm on the boycott.
The report added that Naqvi is expected to consult Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before a final decision is taken.
The dispute escalated after the ICC removed Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup last month following its refusal to travel to India, citing security concerns. The ICC has said no verifiable threat existed, but Bangladesh maintained its stance and was replaced by Scotland.
NDTV reported that Pakistan has since backed Bangladesh, with PCB officials holding discussions with Bangladesh Cricket Board leadership as part of efforts to break the deadlock.
Meanwhile, Pakistan began its T20 World Cup campaign with a narrow three-wicket win over the Netherlands in Colombo. (Newswire)