ICC Halts Pakistan vs India Ticket Sales Over T20 World Cup Boycott

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly held back ticket sales for the high-profile Pakistan vs India clash in the T20 World Cup amid uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation.

While the match remains listed as scheduled for February 15 at Colombo’s R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, fans have still not been able to purchase tickets for the contest.

This is despite the ICC opening ticket sales for other games at the same venue, including matches in the Super 8 stage, with the Pakistan-India fixture standing out as the only one marked with a “commence soon” message on the ticketing platform.

Pakistan’s squad has already arrived in Colombo, and India captain Suryakumar Yadav has confirmed that the Indian team’s travel plans for the February 15 match are in place.

However, the ICC has not announced a sale date for tickets to the blockbuster game, as organizers appear to be waiting for clarity on whether the match will go ahead as planned.

According to officials familiar with the situation, the delay is linked to the absence of formal confirmation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to the ICC regarding Pakistan’s final decision.

The uncertainty has persisted despite what sources describe as efforts by the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to resolve the matter through back-channel contacts, but Pakistan has so far not shifted from its position.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reiterated the government’s stance, saying Pakistan would not play India in the tournament and insisting that politics should be kept out of sport.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), as co-hosts, has urged the PCB to reconsider, pleading that a boycott could result in heavy financial losses for multiple stakeholders involved in the event.