Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider their decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India. As a co-host of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, SLC addressed a letter to PCB citing that the withdrawal decision is causing significant economic losses after all preparations for the India-Pakistan match in Colombo were finalized.
Sri Lanka Cricket indicates that all arrangements for this blockbuster match were already completed, but Pakistan's decision led to large-scale hotel booking cancellations, severely impacting Colombo's tourism sector. According to reports, Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Shammi Silva stated that the cancellation of this high-voltage encounter could have serious negative repercussions on the tournament's commercial and sporting dynamics.
Sri Lanka Cricket reminded that during challenging times, they have always supported Pakistan and now appeals to Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider its decision given the current situation. Sri Lanka Cricket emphasized past collaborations, noting that their team visited Pakistan under tough and sensitive conditions when other cricketing nations hesitated. These decisions were made in the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect between the two boards.
Initially, the Pakistan Cricket Board threatened to boycott the entire tournament protesting Bangladesh's late exclusion. Eventually, the board left the participation decision for Shahbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government which ultimately allowed Salman Ali Agha's captaincy team to participate but barred them from playing the high-profile match against India on February 15 at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka Cricket stated that as hosts, they are excited about the tournament and have already completed all commercial, operational, logistics, and security preparations for all matches here, including hospitality planning and ticket sales.
The letter further mentioned that tickets for matches in Sri Lanka, especially the India-Pakistan clash, were already sold out, indicating unprecedented public interest and significant commercial stakes. Sri Lanka Cricket warned that the absence of any team in such a large-scale encounter could lead to substantial economic losses, impact tourism, and result in severe economic disruptions.
