Pakistan at last show signs of rethinking India boycott call; Sri Lanka’s letter seems to do the trick: Report

Sri Lanka sent a letter to the PCB earlier this week, outlining the severe economic fallout the boycott could trigger in the country.

Updated on: Feb 7, 2026, 15:39:53 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is finally reconsidering its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup group game against India following a request from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Sri Lanka sent a letter to the PCB earlier this week, outlining the severe economic fallout the boycott could trigger in the country.

Pakistan to reconsider India boycott call (AFP)

The Pakistan government allowed the Salman Ali Agha-led side to travel to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup but barred the players from taking the field in the Group A match against India next Sunday in Colombo. While the ICC is yet to receive an official communication from the PCB, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the stance while addressing the media in Islamabad earlier this week, effectively making it official.

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Following Sharif’s statement, the SLC president wrote to the PCB requesting a reconsideration of the boycott, warning that the decision would result in massive financial losses for Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the T20 World Cup with India.

“Obviously, Pakistan has always enjoyed very close and friendly ties with Sri Lanka at both the government-to-government and cricketing levels. So the mail from their board can’t be ignored just like that,” a source aware of the developments told news agency PTI on Saturday.

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“Mohsin Naqvi has been contacted directly by Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva and reminded that Sri Lanka needs Pakistan to step up at this time, as without the India–Pakistan match, Sri Lanka Cricket would lose significant revenue from gate receipts, hospitality sales and other sources,” the source added.

According to the report, following the letter, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi assured his Sri Lankan counterpart that he would consult the Pakistan government before taking a decision.

“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not been in the country since yesterday and is due to return today. He will bring the email to the Prime Minister’s notice regarding ending the boycott of the India match, after which a decision is expected by Monday,” the source said.

The source also highlighted that the Sri Lankan government had previously stood by Pakistan during a white-ball series last November, when some Sri Lankan players wanted to return home due to security concerns. “Not only the Sri Lankan Board, but the government directed the players to complete the white-ball tour,” the source added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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