ICC Desperately Opens Back-Channel Talks With Pakistan to Play India in T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has stepped in after the Pakistan government directed its national team to boycott the group-stage match against India at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

According to media reports, ICC chairman Jay Shah has asked deputy chair Imran Khwaja to handle the matter. Khwaja has been tasked with conducting back-channel negotiations to convince the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play the group match against India, which is scheduled to take place in Colombo on February 15.

Khwaja, who represents the Singapore Cricket Association, is widely regarded within the ICC as a neutral figure capable of engaging with all sides. He previously served as the ICC’s interim chairman in 2017, a factor believed to have played a key role in his appointment to manage the situation.

The controversy began last Sunday when the Pakistan government issued an official statement on X. While granting permission for the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, the statement clearly stated that Pakistan would not play the group match against arch-rivals India.

No official reason was provided for the decision. However, it is believed the move was made in support of Bangladesh, who were removed from the tournament after refusing to travel to India and demanding a change in venue.

Following the government’s announcement, the ICC released an official statement confirming that it had taken note of the development. The ICC emphasized that “selective participation” goes against the core principles of a global sporting event, where all qualified teams are expected to compete according to the scheduled fixtures.

The ICC also clarified that it is still awaiting formal communication from the PCB on the issue. It warned that refusing to play could have serious long-term consequences for cricket in Pakistan and urged the board to reconsider its position.

As of now, the PCB has not officially informed the ICC of any decision to skip the match. If Pakistan fail to turn up, they will forfeit all points from the game and suffer a significant blow to their net run rate. The ICC may also be forced to impose sanctions on the PCB.