The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a firm stand against the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) list of demands, essentially telling the board it has “nothing to offer” in the form of extra compensation for Bangladesh.
The standoff comes as the 2026 T20 World Cup gets underway, with Pakistan threatening to boycott their high-profile clash against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
In a high-stakes meeting held in Lahore on Sunday, February 8, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khawaja and BCB President Aminul Islam. Pakistan’s boycott is officially a gesture of “solidarity” with Bangladesh, who were replaced in the tournament by Scotland after refusing to travel to India due to security concerns.
The PCB’s Three Major Demands:
To end the boycott, the PCB reportedly placed the following conditions on the table:
- Resumption of Bilateral Ties: Demanding the ICC facilitate the revival of India-Pakistan bilateral series.
- Increased Revenue Share: A request for a larger slice of the ICC’s financial pie.
- Handshake Protocol: Ensuring that pre-match handshakes—which have been a point of contention in recent Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events—are mandatory and respected.
The ICC’s Response:
The ICC’s delegation was blunt regarding the PCB’s attempt to secure financial “participation fees” or special compensation for the ousted Bangladesh team. The governing body clarified that while the BCB would receive its full scheduled share of ICC earnings, no additional payouts would be made.
ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khawaja reportedly urged the PCB to end the “logjam,” warning that a boycott of the tournament’s most lucrative fixture would cause “material damage” to the global cricket ecosystem and could lead to severe sanctions against Pakistan, including potential suspension.
While the PCB believes it has a strong legal case under the ‘Force Majeure’ clause—citing government orders—the ICC has requested documented evidence of how the board attempted to mitigate the situation before deciding to forfeit.