India vs Pakistan bilateral series to restart? PCB makes crazy demands to play India in T20 WC 2026

The chances of the India vs Pakistan clash from the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, have brightened up, with the deputy chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Imran Khwaja, flying to Lahore for the meeting with the seniors of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). 

The reports have claimed that Khwaja was locked in discussions at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Aminul Islam Bulbul, and the PCB chief operating officer, Sumair Ahmed Syed, were also present in the discussion.

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Khawaja, who has been acting as a mediator in the sensitive situation, was received at Lahore airport by Amir Mir, the advisor to Naqvi. The ICC has claimed that they would have to travel with the sole objective of salvaging the marquee India vs Pakistan fixture, which carries the massive economic value and revenue for the ICC and its member boards.

PCB seeks to continue handshake with India in T20 WC 2026

Bulbul is expected to play a role in the discussions aimed at Pakistan reconsidering their decision to skip the Colombo fixture. Pakistan PM, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier addressed that they would stand by Bangladesh, who were replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup, as they gave the green signal to play the World Cup, but not the clash against India.

The PCB, as per the reports, has three demands to play the blue brigade. The first one is to shake hands with the Indian players at the toss and after the end of the clash, which didn’t happen during the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. Pakistan has also asked to restart its bilateral ties with the BCCI, including a series against India in the next World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

The PCB has also asked for an increased share of the ICC revenue after this competition. Now, it’s up to the administration to take the final decision regarding the World Cup clash.