Emirates Email to PCB Highlights Financial Losses if India Clash Boycotted

Pakistan’s refusal to play India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has come under fresh scrutiny after the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) formally urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider its stance, warning of serious financial and sporting consequences. The development has further isolated Pakistan internationally and increased pressure on PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to engineer a reversal ahead of the high-profile Group A clash scheduled for February 15.

Sources said the PCB is now considering a possible U-turn after a crucial meeting in Lahore involving officials from the PCB, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Pakistan’s earlier decision to boycott the match followed consultations between Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which the government barred the team from taking the field against India.

NDTV has learnt that the Emirates Cricket Board sent a detailed email to the PCB, stressing its long-standing support for Pakistan cricket and highlighting the wider financial fallout if the India-Pakistan fixture does not take place. The ECB noted that it has repeatedly hosted Pakistan’s matches in the past and warned that a boycott would hurt the global game, with associate member nations facing significant revenue losses.

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“As a family member, we request the PCB to reconsider their decision and find an acceptable solution,” the ECB letter said, underlining the commercial importance of the marquee encounter. The board has tasked its general secretary, Mubashshir Usmani, along with ICC deputy chairman Imran Khawaja, with mediating between the stakeholders.

The issue was discussed at length during Sunday’s meeting in Lahore, attended by Khawaja, Naqvi, and BCB president Aminul Islam. Pakistani media reported that negotiations have concluded, with a resolution expected within hours and a roadmap agreed upon through mutual consultation.

The boycott controversy was triggered after the Pakistan government publicly announced its decision on social media, linking it to regional tensions and the Bangladesh cricket dispute. With global pressure mounting and financial stakes rising, the PCB now faces a critical decision that could shape Pakistan’s participation in the tournament and its standing within international cricket.

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