The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) contradictory stance has been laid bare by a recent media report, which revealed that the Pakistan Women’s A team has received no instruction regarding the status of its upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup clash against India Women’s A, scheduled for February 15 in Bangkok, the same day Pakistan’s senior men’s team were slated to face India in the T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo.
PCB has yet to officially write to the ICC (AFP)
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The men’s Group A fixture remains officially listed at the R Premadasa Stadium, but a social media post from the Pakistan government announced that Salman Ali Agha and his side would forfeit the match as a symbolic protest.
According to an ESPNCricinfo report, preparations for the women’s Asia Cup, which begins on February 13, are proceeding as planned, with Pakistan A set to take on India A next week. A press release published on the PCB website on Sunday, the same day the boycott announcement was made, named India in Pakistan’s group and confirmed the February 15 fixture.
The contrasting approach is further underlined by the fact that Pakistan’s Under-19 men’s team also played India on the same day in a do-or-die Super Six encounter at the U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe, where Pakistan were eliminated following a 58-run defeat.
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The contrasting approach is further underlined by the fact that Pakistan’s Under-19 men’s team also played India on the same day in a do-or-die Super Six encounter at the U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe, where Pakistan were eliminated following a 58-run defeat.
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While the PCB is yet to officially communicate any intention to boycott the senior men’s India clash to the ICC, the global body has warned that selective participation could invite serious sanctions. However, for any punitive action to be enforced, the ICC must consult its 12 Full Member boards, three Associate Member representatives, and the ICC Chairman. As of now, there has been no confirmation of a Board meeting being scheduled.
Speculation continues to swirl around the potential consequences of a formal forfeiture, with reports suggesting penalties could range from suspension from the tournament and loss of ICC revenue share to a blanket freeze on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for overseas players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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.
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Home/Cricket/PCB’s double message exposed as Pakistan women's team face India on Feb 15 amid men’s T20 World Cup boycott: Report
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