Sri Lanka Cricket has formally asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider reports suggesting Pakistan may boycott the India vs Pakistan match during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva wrote to the PCB after media reports claimed Pakistan would participate in the World Cup but might skip the high-profile match against India on February 15, 2026, at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
In the letter, Sri Lanka Cricket said it is fully prepared to host the World Cup matches assigned to the country. The board stated that all arrangements, including security, logistics, operations, hospitality, ticketing, and commercial planning, have already been completed. It added that ticket sales for matches in Sri Lanka, especially the India vs Pakistan clash, were finalized earlier and received an overwhelming public response.
Sri Lanka Cricket warned that any decision by Pakistan not take part in such a major fixture would have serious consequences. These include financial losses, disruption of commercial agreements, and negative effects on tourism-related activity. According to information available, several hotels in Colombo have already seen booking cancellations following reports of Pakistan’s possible stance.
Hospitality industry sources said hotels had prepared for a large number of international visitors during the match period, but the uncertainty has affected occupancy forecasts for the World Cup window.
The board also emphasized that the impact of a boycott would not be limited to Sri Lanka Cricket alone. It said the Government of Sri Lanka and other stakeholders are closely involved in delivering the tournament successfully, and disruption to the biggest match could damage overall planning and confidence.
In its letter, Sri Lanka Cricket highlighted its past support for Pakistan, recalling that Sri Lankan teams toured Pakistan during difficult times when security concerns prevented other teams from visiting. The board said those tours were undertaken in the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect and expressed hope that the same spirit would be shown now.
Sri Lanka Cricket assured the PCB that full security, neutrality, and professional standards would be maintained for all matches hosted in the country.
The board concluded by urging Pakistan to reconsider any reported decision to boycott or selectively skip the February 15 match and requested full participation in all scheduled fixtures in Sri Lanka for the success of the tournament and the benefit of cricket fans worldwide.
