‘Pakistan will play India’: PCB expected to make dramatic boycott U-turn 'after February 12'; statement will say...

A former BCCI selector made a bold prediction, claiming the PCB will make a U-turn on the potential boycott decision after February 12

Updated on: Feb 6, 2026, 11:31:11 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues to keep the International Cricket Council (ICC) waiting for official confirmation of its stance on the T20 World Cup group game against India, former BCCI chief selector Chetan Sharma made a bold prediction, claiming the PCB will make a U-turn on the potential boycott decision after February 12. He even went on to predict what the reversal statement might say.

Pakistan are set to boycott their T20 World Cup group game against India

Chetan’s remarks came despite Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirming on Wednesday that the players will not take the field against India next week at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. While the ICC continues to hope Pakistan will backtrack—especially with the apex body having warned of possible sanctions—Chetan insisted the PCB would reverse its stance after February 12, arguing the decision is politically driven.

ALSO READ: Suryakumar Yadav breaks silence on Pakistan’s boycott of India T20 World Cup match: ‘We didn’t say no. They did’

“What was Bangladesh players’ fault? None. This is politics. Bangladesh has elections on the 12th. After that, you’ll see a U-turn. There will be a statement saying, ‘Considering public sentiment, cricket shouldn’t suffer, Pakistan will play against India.’ This stance is still about the Bangladesh election only. I’ve been a politician; I’ve contested elections. After the elections, maybe even the military chief will say sport should be kept free of politics and the match should go ahead,” Chetan said during an India Today event.

The former India fast bowler added that amid the chaos surrounding the match, it is Pakistan’s players who are suffering the most.

“As of now, Pakistan hasn’t formally communicated anything to the ICC. Statements mean nothing without official confirmation. Anyone can announce retirement—but unless you submit it officially, nothing changes. Who is actually suffering here? Cricket—and the cricketers,” he said.

Regardless of what the PCB eventually decides, India captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed on Thursday that the team will travel to Colombo for the fixture.

“The mindset is clear… we did not refuse to play. The refusal has come from their side. The ICC has given the fixture, the government has decided on a neutral venue. Our flight to Colombo is booked, we are going. The rest, we will see,” he said at the pre-tournament press conference in Mumbai.

Should Pakistan boycott the match, India will be awarded two points via a walkover.

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

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.