Sri Lanka warns Pakistan of financial loss for forfeiting India clash in T20 World Cup 2026

A fresh twist to the drama around Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 against India, scheduled to take place on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, has taken place after the Sri Lanka cricket board urged the Pakistan board to reconsider their stance.

The reports have claimed that the Sri Lanka board has ordered the PCB to play their match against India or pay 70 million dollars to the Sri Lanka board to cover the losses, which consisted of 25 to 40 million dollars around tourism and hotels, six to 10 million dollars around stadium revenue, 15 to 25 million dollars for sponsorship and ads, and 20 to 30 million dollars for indirect economic impact.

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Other cricketing nations might not feel the same impact of Pakistan’s boycott in the near future, unlike Sri Lanka, but they will when the International Credit Council is forced to slash the funds, which are meant for all the associate members to be given a hit. The ICC has already asked the PCB to come to a mutually accepted position on that matter.

SLC to charge $70M from PCB for boycotting T20 WC 2026 clash vs. India

The Sri Lanka cricket secretary, Bandula Dissanayake, later confirmed the letter to the PCB while speaking to the Indian Express, after Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha also shed light on their government’s decision to play the World Cup but not the clash against India in the middle of February.

“Yes, we have written a letter to the PCB. We tried to highlight things we have done for Pakistan cricket in their difficult times in the past. We expressed our concerns over their decision, as all the preparations have been done here for the match.” Dissanayake told the reporters.

“We categorically told them that not only Sri Lanka cricket but we as a country are losing because of this decision. They are hurting Sri Lanka’s economy. It will hurt tourism here in the country. Our economy will take a hit because of this one decision.” He confirmed the letter to PCB.