Cricket
The high-voltage India vs Pakistan match, scheduled for February 15, 2026 in Colombo, was thrown into doubt after political tensions triggered boycott talks
Pakistan’s government reportedly asked the team to boycott the match in solidarity with Bangladesh, forcing the PCB to rethink participation in the marquee fixture
The PCB tried to invoke a Force Majeure clause, but the ICC rejected it, questioning why Pakistan could play other matches but not the one against India
The ICC warned of massive financial penalties, potentially running into hundreds of millions, along with the risk of international isolation if the boycott went ahead.
An ICC team led by Imran Khwaja and Mubashir Usmani arrived in Lahore on February 8, 2026, opening final negotiations to break the deadlock
With Pakistan already in Sri Lanka and India confirming they’ll follow ICC protocol, reports now suggest a 99% chance the blockbuster clash will go ahead as scheduled