- PCB spokesperson says Indian media is circulating fiction.
- Sources say the ICC seeks dialogue, not confrontation.
- Pakistan has refused to meet India in Group A.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday dismissed reports from Indian media claiming that they had offered dialogue to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resolve the issue surrounding its decision to forfeit India’s match in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir issued the rebuttal after Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta wrongly claimed that the PCB had contacted the ICC for a dialogue on the India-Pakistan World Cup match.
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Reacting to his claims, PCB spokesperson said: “I categorically reject Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta’s claim that PCB has approached the ICC.”
“As usual, sections of the Indian media are busy spreading fiction. A little patience and time will reveal who actually knocked and who did not,” Mir added.
The rebuttal came next AFP reported that ICC was in talks with the PCB to resolve the boycott of the 2026 T20 World Cup match against India on February 15.
The ICC sought a solution through dialogue and not confrontation, the source added.
Each clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsorship and advertising revenue.
But the match was thrown into doubt after the Pakistani government ordered the team not to play the match in Colombo.
The decision was announced after a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on February 1.
“The government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants permission to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026,” the government said in a post on X at the time.
“…However, the Pakistan cricket team will not take the field in the match scheduled for February 15, 2026 against India.”
The 20-team tournament was overshadowed by a bitter political situation after Bangladesh, who refused to play in India on security grounds, was replaced by Scotland.
In protest, Pakistan refused to meet co-hosts India in their Group A match.
Pakistan, who defeated the Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, will lose two points if they forfeit the match and also take a significant hit to its net run-rate.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav said this week that his team would travel to Colombo for the match.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for over a decade and only meet in global or regional tournaments.
