The drama surrounding the India versus Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 fixture in Colombo on February 15 is intensifying with every passing day.

According to a report by India Today, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) put forward several demands to the International Cricket Council (ICC) during Sunday's meeting over Pakistan's stance on boycotting the group-stage match against arch-rivals.

The apex body reportedly turned down three of those demands, including proposals for the resumption of bilateral series between India and Pakistan and a triangular contest involving Bangladesh, Pakistan and India.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has been given a day’s time to consult Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and take the final call.

The Jay Shah-led body is expected to make a formal announcement on the status of the India-Pakistan encounter either on Monday (February 9) evening or Tuesday (February 10) morning, the report claimed.

As per the report, five demands were kept in front of the ICC delegation, which landed in Lahore on Sunday (February 8) to resolve the deadlock.

• Bangladesh should not be penalised for withdrawing from the T20 World Cup and must receive its full share of ICC revenue – a decision the ICC had already taken independently.
• The ICC was asked to allot a global tournament to Bangladesh after last year's Women's T20 World Cup was moved out of the country due to civil unrest. The 2028 edition of Under-19 World Cup was suggested as a possible alternative.
• Moreover, Pakistan demanded the resumption of bilateral cricket with India. This request was denied by the ICC, citing that it doesn’t come under its purview, even within the framework of the World Test Championship.
• The proposal for tri-series involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh was also rejected on similar grounds as was the demand that India tour Bangladesh later this year for a series that was deferred in 2025.

Earlier, it was reported that PCB had reached out to ICC after the apex body sought an explanation on how the force majeure clause can be invoked to justify the team's refusal to play India, and also warned the Pakistan board of potential legal implications.

Additionally, co-hosts Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has urged the PCB to reconsider its stance, which could have an adverse impact on tourism in the island nation. In a letter, SLC also reminded PCB that they were one of the first major nations to tour Pakistan after the 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.

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.

(With India Today Inputs)