Sri Lanka urge Pakistan to reconsider clash against India:Flags major financial sporting impact; tourism, hospitality sector hit in Colombo

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has formally appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rethink its reported decision to skip the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan Group A match during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The marquee clash is scheduled to be played in Colombo on February 15. In a letter addressed to the PCB, SLC highlighted the serious sporting and commercial impact the potential cancellation could have, particularly on Sri Lanka as a co-host nation. The board stressed that the India-Pakistan match is one of the biggest attractions of the tournament and plays a vital role in driving fan interest, ticket sales, and broadcast revenue. Pakistan’s announcement that it may boycott the fixture has created major uncertainty around whether the game will go ahead as planned, causing concern among tournament organisers, broadcasters, and local stakeholders. As the countdown to the tournament continues, all eyes remain on PCB’s next move and whether the blockbuster India-Pakistan clash will go ahead as scheduled. SLC flags major financial and sporting impact SLC made it clear that the India vs Pakistan match is not just another group-stage fixture but the most valuable game of the tournament. The absence of the match could severely affect ticket sales, sponsorship deals, and television viewership, especially in Colombo, where demand was expected to peak. The Sri Lankan board also reminded PCB of Sri Lanka’s past support to Pakistan cricket, including touring the country during sensitive and challenging periods. SLC urged Pakistan to show similar cooperation now, keeping in mind the spirit of international cricket and mutual support between cricketing nations. The move by SLC reflects growing worries about the wider consequences of the boycott, not only for cricket but also for Sri Lanka’s economy during the World Cup window. Tourism and hospitality sector hit in Colombo Sri Lanka’s tourism and hotel industry has already begun to feel the impact of Pakistan’s reported decision. According to industry sources, several Colombo-based hotels have seen booking cancellations after initially expecting a surge in international visitors for the high-profile clash. These cancellations have directly affected occupancy forecasts during the World Cup period, raising concerns among hoteliers and tourism operators who had planned extensively around the February 15 fixture. ICC warns Pakistan of possible consequences The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also stepped in, issuing a warning to Pakistan regarding the serious implications of a no-show. The ICC has reportedly informed PCB about potential sanctions and financial liabilities, given the match’s importance as the most commercially valuable fixture of the tournament. With the T20 World Cup set to begin on February 7, pressure is mounting on Pakistan to reconsider its stance. SLC’s appeal underlines how the boycott could hurt not only cricket fans but also broadcasters, sponsors, and Sri Lanka’s broader economy. Suryakumar clears dressing room preparation for Pakistan clash In the pre-match press conference, when SKY asked about the India-Pakistan clash on Feb 15, Suryakumar clarified Team India’s preparation and schedule to face Pakistan in Colombo. He said, “I think mindset is pretty clear. We have not said no to playing the match. It came from the other side. ICC has given the official fixtures. BCCI and the government has decided on a neutral venue along with ICC.” “Our flight is booked for Colombo. So we are going for sure. The team discussion is that we are playing first on February 7, then we will travel to Sri Lanka via Delhi,” he concluded further.”