The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has presented three major demands to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a bid to resolve its ongoing standoff, sources told NDTV.
The board’s move comes after Pakistan announced it would boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
During a meeting with ICC officials at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi outlined the conditions, which include:
Increased compensation for Bangladesh – The PCB is backing Bangladesh’s demand for a higher financial share from the ICC, citing the country’s growing role in global cricket. Enhanced funding is seen as vital for infrastructure, talent development, and competitive standards.
Participation fee for Bangladesh despite T20 World Cup ouster – Bangladesh was removed from the tournament last month after refusing to travel to India over security concerns. The PCB argues that teams deserve baseline financial compensation regardless of early exit.
Hosting rights for a future ICC event – Bangladesh is seeking the opportunity to host an ICC tournament, boosting the country’s cricket economy and international visibility.
While some PCB officials are open to playing the India match, Naqvi remains firm on consulting Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before any final decision, according to the reports. The chairman, who also serves as Interior Minister, is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister within the next 24–28 hours.
The ICC delegation, represented by Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, was joined by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul. No joint statement was issued, and the ICC confirmed that all demands would be forwarded to its Board for final consideration.
The row began when Bangladesh, citing security concerns, refused to travel to India and later the team was replaced by Scotland. Pakistan later declared it would boycott the India fixture in solidarity with Bangladesh, prompting urgent backchannel talks.
Naqvi also raised other issues during the meeting, including revenue-sharing concerns, the resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral series, and the so-called “handshake controversy” from the Asia Cup, urging that players uphold customary traditions.
With the ICC warning that cancellation of the Pakistan-India match could damage the tournament, all eyes are now on the Pakistani government’s final verdict. Reports indicate that a resolution allowing the match to proceed is possible, but conditional on the fulfillment of PCB’s demands.
