The Pakistan government has allowed its national team to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, but it did not give them the green light to play against arch-rivals India on February 15. No reason has been specified for making this bold move.

Pakistan’s boycott decision is being seen as an act of solidarity with Bangladesh after their removal from the 20-tournament for refusing to travel to India citing 'security concerns'.

The India versus Pakistan fixture is estimated to generate a substantial portion of the tournament's global sponsorship and broadcast revenue. By targeting this particular match, Pakistan aim to hit the ICC where it is most vulnerable. However, the consequences could leave the country's cricket board in financial ruin.

Despite the ICC’s warning that selective participation will not be allowed, Pakistan haven’t changed their stance yet.

Speaking on Stick to Cricket, former England cricketer Mark Butcher weighed in on the standoff, saying that Pakistan’s refusal to play India isn’t just politics.

Butcher also highlighted the financial motivations behind the ICC's scheduling of India-Pakistan matches.

“Historically India and Pakistan don't play each other on a bilateral basis anymore… however in ICC tournaments they are always placed in the same group why because it is the most lucrative fixture in the world of cricket and some say in the world of sport… So those two teams are always in the same group. Now, Pakistan are in a situation whereby they're the sort of… the younger brother… and India pretty much gets its own way…,” Butcher said.

He went on to explain how the hybrid model arranged for India-Pakistan impacts other teams.

“When this stuff happens it affects all of the other teams in the tournament because all of a sudden their program has to change and they have to fly out of the country to go and meet India in the place where they want to play and everybody else has to fit in,” Butcher added, referring to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 when India’s matches were moved to the UAE as the BCCI didn’t get permission from the government to send its team to Pakistan.

Butcher argued that Pakistan’s current stand is less chest-thumping and more leverage, calling it a disaster for India and ICC.

“Pakistan have basically they've kind of pulled a blinder… ‘Okay, we we'll we still want to be involved in the tournament. However, we're not going to play against India because of what you've done with Bangladesh…’ … And for India, that's a disaster. Well, for the ICC it's a disaster because of the size financially of that fixture and it's kind of the only lever really that Pakistan have to pull in this situation.”

Pakistan are slated to play all their T20 World Cup fixtures in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreement with the BCCI and ICC till 2027.

If the Men in Green fail to take the field against India, the match will be ruled a forfeit under ICC rules, resulting in an automatic loss of two points and a hit to their net run rate. Moreover, severe sanctions are likely to be imposed on PCB that could isolate Pakistan cricket.