With a boycott looming over the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash on February 15, the T20 World Cup 2026 faces the possibility of becoming the first major ICC tournament in 14 years without a head-to-head meeting between the arch-rivals. The 20-team event begins on Saturday, with Pakistan opening their campaign against the Netherlands before India rounds off the opening day against the United States.

However, the scheduled Group A encounter between India and Pakistan in Colombo has thrown the tournament into uncertainty. Pakistan’s government has reportedly refused to grant permission for its team to take the field for the marquee clash, plunging the ICC and broadcasters into a financial and logistical dilemma. While a potential meeting in the semifinals or final remains possible, there is no clarity on whether the boycott would extend into the knockout stages as well.

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Former India opener Aakash Chopra weighed in on the financial implications of a no-show, dismissing speculation around the revenue loss figures being circulated. “It’s all rough calculation. Nowhere is it written how much money you earn from a single game. The rumour market is very hot right now. Everyone is saying whatever they want, so you can’t just claim that a quarter of a billion dollars comes from this match,” Chopra said.

Chopra also warned of wider consequences if the boycott goes through, suggesting that other cricketing nations may push back strongly. “Others will say, ‘Tum to maroge hi, humein kyun leke doob rahe ho’ (You are going to sink anyway, why take us down with you?). There could be calls to throw them out, not make them part of the FTP, reprimand them, or even stop bilateral cricket and deny NOCs to players,” he added.

The former cricketer further argued that Pakistan cricket’s commercial relevance hinges largely on its rivalry with India. “Pakistan cricket is important not because they are playing outstanding cricket, they are not. They’ve reached the final of an ICC event only twice in the last 10 years, winning once in 2017 and finishing runners-up in 2022,” Chopra said.

“Pakistan’s importance comes from the India-Pakistan rivalry. The day that rivalry dies, the day India and Pakistan stop playing each other, India will continue on its merry way. But Pakistan’s value, in terms of what they bring to the table, will diminish drastically.”