Pakistan (PCB) plans to use the 'Force Majeure' clause to avoid ICC punishment, claiming the boycott was due to circumstances beyond their control.
The PCB will argue they were forced to withdraw because the Pakistan government issued a direct order not to play India.
The BCCI claims this defense is weak because Pakistan played India in the U-19 World Cup on the same day the government allegedly ordered the boycott.
The defense is further weakened because the match was in Colombo (a neutral venue), not India, and Pakistan had already agreed to play in Sri Lanka.
The ICC may impose heavy fines or suspend bilateral series because the boycott causes huge financial losses for broadcasters.
Critics argue the PCB and the Pakistan government are essentially the same entity (the PM is the board's Patron), making the "external pressure" claim difficult to prove.