KEY POINTS
- Pakistan will participate in T20 World Cup but boycott its match against India.
- The boycott is a protest against ICC ‘double standards’ and BCCI influence.
LAHORE, Pakistan: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to sell broadcast and media rights for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the Indian market, officials said, as preparations for the upcoming season move forward.
This decision comes as preparations for PSL 11 advance steadily, with the season scheduled from March 26 to May 3.
The focus remains on the upcoming players’ auction on February 11, where the eight franchises, including two new entrants, will finalize their squads for what promises to be the largest edition in league history.
T20 World Cup participation
Earlier, PCB confirmed Pakistan’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on February 7, but has decided that the national team will boycott its high-profile group-stage match against arch-rivals India, scheduled for February 15 in Sri Lanka.
The decision was finalised after a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Stance against ‘Double Standards’
This strategic boycott is positioned as a direct response to what the PCB describes as unfair practices within the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Last week, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly criticised the ICC, accusing it of exhibiting ‘double standards’ and undue influence from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The PCB’s stance was reportedly strengthened by recent ICC actions, including the last-minute replacement of Bangladesh with Scotland in the World Cup lineup.
This change followed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to tour India, a decision allegedly triggered after an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise released a prominent Bangladeshi player at the BCCI’s direction.
Applying financial pressure
The boycott of the India match is a calculated move aimed at applying financial pressure on the ICC.
The high-revenue match is a major broadcast event, and Pakistan’s withdrawal is intended to underscore the financial and sporting consequences of perceived inequity in the sport’s governance.
PCB Chairman Naqvi had previously indicated that a final decision on World Cup participation would be announced by early February, following his initial discussions with the Prime Minister last month.
All eyes are now on the ICC’s response to Pakistan’s unprecedented move, while domestic cricket focus shifts to the PSL 11 auction next week, set to proceed without Indian broadcast partners.
