The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refuted claims circulating in the Indian media that it approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the potentially boycotted T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. The highly anticipated match, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, has been cast into doubt after the Pakistani government reportedly ordered the team not to play the fixture.

A PCB spokesperson, Aamir Mir, addressed the allegations made by Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta, dismissing them as "fiction". Mir stated that the PCB had not contacted the ICC on the matter. He further hinted that the dialogue regarding the match was initiated by the global body, rather than the PCB. "I categorically reject the claim by Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta that PCB approached the ICC. As usual, sections of the Indian media are busy circulating fiction," Mir said in a statement shared on the PCB's official X handle. He added, "A little patience and time will clearly show who actually went knocking and who didn't".

Gupta had claimed that the PCB reached out to the ICC for a dialogue after the ICC warned of potential ramifications and sanctions in response to the PCB's communication about pulling out of the India clash due to "Force Majeure". Gupta stated that the PCB initially informed the ICC of their decision to withdraw from the game, citing the government's directive and invoking the "Force Majeure" clause of the Members Participation Agreement (MPA). The ICC then reportedly questioned the factors under "Force Majeure" and informed the PCB of possible legal ramifications.

Amidst the uncertainty, reports have emerged that the ICC is in talks with the PCB to find a resolution to the situation. A source told AFP that the ICC aims to resolve the matter through dialogue rather than confrontation. The India-Pakistan match is a major attraction in the cricket world, generating significant revenue through broadcast rights, sponsorships, and advertising.

The controversy arose after the Government of Pakistan instructed the Pakistan cricket team not to take the field against India on February 15, though the reasons for this directive were not specified. Earlier, the 20-team tournament faced political tensions when Bangladesh refused to play in India, citing security concerns, leading to Scotland replacing them. Pakistan apparently protested this decision by refusing to play co-hosts India in their Group A fixture.

If Pakistan forfeits the match, they will lose two points and suffer a setback to their net run rate. The team narrowly defeated the Netherlands in their tournament opener. India and Pakistan have a history of political tension which has often impacted sporting relations. The two nations have not engaged in bilateral cricket for over a decade, and now primarily face each other in global or regional tournaments.