The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is currently underway and fans are enjoying the cricket matches. But just days ago, the tournament’s biggest match between India and Pakistan was in serious danger of being cancelled, with the high-voltage conflict at the center of a diplomatic drama.

Uncertainty has shrouded the game for weeks. Boycott threats, political interference and a list of demands from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) created a tense atmosphere. However, after negotiations at the Jay Shah-led ICC, the PCB agreed to face its arch-rivals in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.

Here’s a complete timeline of the incident, from Pakistan’s boycott threats to its eventual turnaround.

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India vs Pakistan schedule sparks 2026 T20 World Cup controversy

The International Chamber of Commerce has announced the schedule of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with India and Pakistan in Group A along with the Netherlands, Namibia and the United States. The match between India and Pakistan quickly became the most watched game of the tournament.

Fans started booking tickets, and broadcasters predicted record-breaking ratings. However, problems soon arose after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised serious concerns about playing in India. BCB has reacted after Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from IPL 2026.

Three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Mustafizur on the instructions of BCCI. Mustafizur was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 920 crore in the 2026 IPL auction. The 30-year-old has played 60 matches for five teams, taking a total of 65 wickets.

Mustafizul took 17 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad between 2016 and 2017 and then took 7 wickets for Mumbai Indians in 2018. He added 14 wickets in 2021 and took another 14 wickets in 9 games for Chennai Super Kings in 2024. The left-arm pacer took 13 wickets for Delhi Capitals.

Bangladesh withdrawal leads to Pakistan boycott talk

Bangladesh said they may withdraw from the tournament after the ICC ignored their concerns. Shockingly, BCB officially announced its withdrawal. The ICC moved quickly to replace Bangladesh with Scotland to keep the format intact.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board expressed “solidarity” with Bangladesh’s stance and used it as a reason to question the integrity of the tournament. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla reacted sharply, saying Pakistan was “misleading” Bangladesh to create bigger problems.

After Bangladesh’s elimination, the Pakistan government began consultations on whether its team should participate. There are reports that Pakistan is seriously considering boycotting the conflict with India.

The PCB informally expressed their dissatisfaction to the ICC. Pakistan has said it will not play against India, which is a huge blow to this World Cup. The PCB tried to position themselves as victims, claiming that they were standing up for Bangladesh.

Boycott threat sounds financial alarm for T20 World Cup

The boycott announcement sent shockwaves throughout the tournament, with broadcasters pointing to the huge revenue risks. The India-Pakistan match accounts for a large portion of the World Cup’s revenue and broadcasters have warned of severe financial losses if the match is not held.

Sponsors have also raised concerns as they have invested millions in anticipation of the high-profile clash. If Pakistan withdraws, the commercial viability of the World Cup will be at risk and pressure will increase on the ICC to find a solution.

Notably, the PCB is trying to take advantage of the situation by laying out a long list of demands for negotiations. Pakistan informally proposed some conditions for lifting the boycott.

The board asked for written assurances on the resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket matches and proposed a Test match between the two teams during the World Test Championship cycle.

Additionally, the PCB has also demanded an end to the neutral or mixed-venue format for future tournaments and a larger revenue share for the ICC. They also insist that Bangladesh should resume participation in the World Cup as part of the deal.

ICC takes firm stand under Jay Shah leadership

Jay Shah displayed his administrative talents. The ICC, under his leadership, did not panic at the demands but stood its ground. Behind-the-scenes governance pressure continues to mount.

Full members are required to participate in ICC activities. Discussions of sanctions began, with talk of financial penalties or even the suspension of voting rights if Pakistan disrupted the match.

The International Chamber of Commerce was unhappy with the PCB and asked the board to justify its position. Notably, the ICC sought to explain how force majeure applies in this context. The PCB was informed of the possible consequences if they failed to provide valid and convincing reasons.

PCB changes stance after ICC and ECB intervention

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has written urging stability in the game. The International Chamber of Commerce held an emergency meeting to explain the financial and reputational implications to PCB representatives.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in a letter to the PCB reminded the board that Sri Lanka is traveling to Pakistan at a time when many international teams are reluctant to travel there due to security concerns. The SLC also highlighted the serious financial impact that a failure in the competition could have.

"We have informed them of the financial impact of the confiscation," Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Bandula Dissanayake told The Indian Express.

“We have told them what Sri Lanka will suffer if the tournament cannot go ahead. Many stakeholders will be affected directly and indirectly if the tournament cannot go ahead.”

Notably, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) receives the lion’s share of the International Cricket Federation’s revenue and also derives significant revenue from the Indian Premier League. In contrast, Pakistan and several other teams rely more on ICC revenue share.

Pakistan withdraws threat to boycott India matches

The Pakistan government has changed its plan to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India scheduled to be played in Colombo on February 15. Pressure has come from many quarters, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board urging Pakistan to reconsider in the wider interest of international cricket.

The match between India and Pakistan will be played in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Cricket has stressed that the match will have a huge economic impact on local tourism and warned of financial implications if the match is cancelled.

ICC Vice-President Imran Khwaja met PCB and BCB officials at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday. A day later, Shehbaz Sharif took the final decision after discussions with Naqvi. On Monday night, Pakistan officially withdrew its boycott and confirmed its participation in the tournament.

Pakistan government confirms team will participate in 2026 T20 World Cup India

The Pakistani government confirmed that it has decided to allow the national team to participate in the scheduled matches in India. According to an official statement, the decision was taken to promote the spirit of cricket and ensure the smooth conduct of the sport among all participating countries.

The government of Pakistan said: “In view of the results of multilateral discussions and the requests of friendly countries, the government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on February 15, 2026.”

“Furthermore, this decision has been taken to protect the spirit of cricket and support the continuity of this global sport across all participating countries. “

Jay Shah assures Bangladesh will not be penalized in hosting ICC events before 2031 World Cup

The Jay Shah-led ICC on Monday confirmed that Bangladesh will not face any sanctions despite not participating in the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh were eliminated by Scotland and replaced by Bangladesh after they refused to travel to India due to security concerns.

The ICC also clarified that Bangladesh has been confirmed to host an ICC event ahead of the 2031 Men’s ODI World Cup, which they will co-host with India.

“Regarding Bangladesh, the ICC reiterates its continued commitment to promoting one of cricket’s most vibrant markets, with over 200 million passionate fans, to ensure that the national team’s non-participation in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup does not have any long-term impact on cricket in the country,” the ICC said of Bangladesh’s absence from the tournament.

Jay Shah’s calm leadership keeps India-Pak match on track

Jay Shah played a key role in resolving the crisis without causing controversy. He did not respond publicly to pressure from the Bangladesh Cricket Board and did not give in to demands made by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Instead, he kept calm and let the ICC’s rules and protocols guide every decision.

Shah relied on contracts and governance to handle the situation. This approach protected India’s position and ensured that the tournament went ahead as scheduled. The PCB leadership, including Mohsin Naqvi, tried in vain to push for additional concessions.

This way, the match between India and Pakistan will be played without any issues. Shah showed that a strong government does not need to speak loudly.

Also read: BCCI takes stern stance, rudely rejects Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya’s request to participate in T20 World Cup