![Mohsin Naqvi and Mukesh Ambani [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1770184945100_MohsinNaqviandMukeshAmbani.jpg?type=hq)
Mohsin Naqvi and Mukesh Ambani [Source: X]
The T20 World Cup 2026 is around the corner and controversies don't seem to be taking a rest. After Bangladesh's replacement, Pakistan government has announced a boycott of the IND vs PAK fixture slated for February 15, in Colombo.
Earlier, several renowned media house and digital media publishers shared stories of ICC warning Pakistan of facing lawsuits from official broadcasters JioStar for boycotting its February 15 IND vs PAK game. However, the sources that conveyed the news are being reported as false or fake.
What was the JioStar threat to the PCB?
Looking into the metrics, the India vs Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup, scheduled for February 15, has almost USD 250 million at stake. This also goes without saying that JioStar, the official media broadcast partner, has a major financial interest involved in the fixture.
If the match is abandoned, both the ICC and its official broadcaster stand to lose a significant amount of money, largely due to Pakistan's absence. Hence, as per a PCB source quoted earlier by PTI, the ICC warned the Board of the possibility of facing a legal lawsuit from JioStar.
There is also a possibility that the ICC could withhold Pakistan’s entire annual revenue share, which is around USD 38 million, and redirect it to the broadcaster from its own purse.
No official warning for PCB yet
After rumours swirled over the massive penalties and legal steps the International Cricket Council’s media partner and broadcaster JioStar will impose on the Pakistan Cricket Board, a recent development nullifies those claims as ‘baseless’.
When the ICC signed its four-year deal with the broadcaster for all ICC events, the contract included marquee IND vs PAK matches, based on which the broadcaster made its payments to the ICC.
Therefore, the broadcaster would be within its rights to take both the PCB and the ICC to court over an alleged major breach of contract.
However, this warning by the ICC has reportedly not been formally communicated to the PCB. As per Times of India journalist Gaurav Gupta, there may be no legal action from the T20 World Cup’s official broadcaster, JioStar. In a post on his X handle, Gupta cited a reliable source and stated that the information regarding a legal lawsuit was 'baseless'.
The situation between Pakistan and the ICC has not improved so far. The PCB is yet to send an official letter to the ICC regarding its IND vs PAK withdrawal, as it remains firm on its stance of not taking the field on February 15, despite threats of strict action.
The ICC, meanwhile, remains at loggerheads with Pakistan, warning against selective participation. As things stand, India have made their position clear. The Men in Blue will travel to Colombo on February 15, take the field at the scheduled time, and wait for the match referee to call off the game if Pakistan do not appear.
Such an abandonment would hand India two points, while Pakistan would receive zero points for not participating. However, the playing conditions for 2026 have not yet been released, and the ICC could still impose several other severe measures if Pakistan voluntarily withdraws from the IND vs PAK match.
The viewership is at stakes in IND vs PAK clash
Nevertheless, the IND vs PAK clash remains one of the most highly anticipated fixtures in world cricket. Official ticketing platforms crashed within minutes of sales opening on January 14, 2026, for the February 15 encounter.
The 2024 T20 World Cup recorded the highest resold ticket prices, while the 1999 Asia Test Championship between India and Pakistan saw an all-time total match attendance of 4,65,000 spectators.
The Champions Trophy match between the two sides in 2025 also witnessed the fastest sell-out in cricketing history. The excitement and appeal of these clashes always remain at their peak.
If the match is abandoned, it would undoubtedly break millions of hearts, whether of fans hoping to watch it live on JioStar or those who had planned to witness the spectacle at the stadium.
.jpg?type=mq "Mohsin Naqvi exposed!")
