The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected claims circulating in Indian media that it approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India.
Indian media reports had suggested that Pakistan sought talks with the ICC after being warned of possible legal consequences linked to the boycott decision. The PCB dismissed these reports as factually incorrect and said it had made no such contact.
In a statement issued on social media platform X, PCB spokesperson Amir Mir categorically rejected a claim made by Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta, who alleged that the PCB had reached out to the ICC for dialogue.
“I categorically reject the claim by Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta that PCB approached the ICC. As usual, sections of the Indian media are busy circulating fiction. A little patience and time will clearly show who actually went knocking and who didn’t,” Mir said.
Gupta, in his post, had claimed that the PCB initially wrote to the ICC stating it would pull out of the India match under “force majeure,” attaching a tweet from the Pakistani government. He further alleged that the ICC responded by seeking clarification on the grounds cited and warning of potential legal ramifications and sanctions, after which the PCB supposedly approached the ICC to resolve the issue.
However, the PCB spokesperson said a section of Indian media was once again fabricating stories, adding that time would reveal the facts.
Pakistan’s government has allowed the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup but decided not to play the group match against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
Pakistan decided in solidarity with Bangladesh, which was excluded from the tournament after refusing to play in India over security concerns.
India-Pakistan matches are considered among the most lucrative fixtures in world cricket, generating millions of dollars through broadcasting rights, sponsorships and advertising.
Media reports have also claimed that Sri Lanka Cricket has urged Pakistan to reconsider its boycott decision, warning that cancellation of the match would cause financial losses and hurt tourism, which has been recovering since the country’s 2022 economic crisis.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team captain Salman Agha said any decision on a potential India-Pakistan clash in the semi-final or final would be taken after consultations with the government.
