Cricket
Pakistan has shocked the cricket world by saying it may not play its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. To avoid sanctions, the Pakistan Cricket Board is considering a “force majeure” defence against the ICC
The controversy began when Pakistan’s government instructed the team not to take the field for the India match in Colombo, sparking fears of sanctions and contract issues with the ICC
Force majeure refers to unforeseeable events that prevent an organisation from fulfilling a contract. Pakistan may argue that government orders are such a situation
Some inside cricket say Pakistan’s defence could be tricky. Because the match is in neutral Colombo, not India, it’s unclear if force majeure applies. Local board officials argue the case may be weak
Officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) say the force majeure argument may not hold water, especially since Pakistan had no problem playing India in other ICC events on the same day
If Pakistan refuses to play, it could face fines or other ICC action, and India may be awarded points by walkover. This debate combines sport and politics in a way cricket hasn’t seen before