India vs Pakistan back on as PCB make three demands to ICC, but all for Bangladesh!

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has placed three key conditions before the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider its initial threat to boycott the high-profile group-stage clash against India in the T20 World Cup 2026, set for February 15 in Colombo.

This development follows intense negotiations, including a lengthy meeting in Lahore involving PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, ICC officials, and representatives from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Pakistan's stance originated from solidarity with Bangladesh, which was replaced by Scotland in the tournament due to security-related concerns about traveling to India. The PCB approved overall participation but refused the India fixture, prompting warnings from the ICC about potential sanctions, revenue losses, and damage to tournament integrity. The India-Pakistan encounter remains one of cricket's biggest commercial draws, making any no-show a major risk for all parties.

Amid the standoff, the PCB used the boycott leverage to push for concessions addressing longstanding grievances in global cricket governance, revenue sharing, and bilateral relations.

Pakistan make Three Demands to ICC

Reports indicate the three demands presented during recent talks broadly center on financial equity, support for Bangladesh, and on-field protocols-though slight variations appear across discussions as negotiations evolve.

Increased ICC revenue for Bangladesh - The PCB seeks enhanced ICC revenue funding for the Bangladesh board to reflect its contributions and address the impact of its exclusion from the event. They have put forward a demand of bigger chunk to improve infrastructure within the country.

Payment of a participation fee to Bangladesh - Despite not competing, PCB says Bangladesh must receive the standard fee allocated to participating teams, as a gesture of fairness amid the substitution controversy. PCB has argued that it takes a financial toll to prepare for a tournament and BCB deserves a baseline financial security.

Future Hosting Rights - The PCB has also put forward a demand to ensure a hosting rights for Bangladesh in a future ICC tournament. The BCB last hosted the T20 World Cup more than a decade ago and the demand is to provide them another hosting opportunity in the coming years.