Why Ravichandran Ashwin Believes Pakistan Will ‘100% Backtrack’ on India Match Boycott

Advertisment

The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has been hit by a massive political storm just days before the first ball is bowled. While the Pakistan government has cleared its team to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament, it has issued a sensational order: the team must not take the field for the high-stakes 15 February clash against India in Colombo.

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in, predicting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will "100 percent backtrack" owing to the crippling financial and administrative consequences of such a boycott.

The Billion-Dollar Blame Game

The current problem started following Pakistan’s boycott of India's match in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Now, the situation has become a crisis for the sport's finances. However, Ashwin says the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup game is too valuable to cancel. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the legendary spinner noted that "the broadcasters will lose a lot of money, so there has to be a compromise."

Advertisment

Apart from this, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has already sent a strong warning to the PCB. They said that skipping specific matches breaks the rules that all teams signed.

One noteworthy fact is that Pakistan’s yearly cricket income is about $35.5 million, whereas its one game against India can generate nearly $250 million for the global market. According to Ashwin, "All the members will face losses, and they will say in the ICC meeting that, because of Pakistan, we are facing these losses." This pressure from other countries will be very hard for Pakistan to ignore.

What are the Long-Term Consequences of an India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Boycott?

Advertisment

Fans are worried about the match on 15 February, but the future of the sport is also at risk. If Pakistan skips the game, the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup rivalry might change forever. The ICC usually puts both teams in the same group to make more money. If the boycott happens, they might stop doing this, which would eventually cause a massive drop in ticket sales and TV viewership for future tournaments.

"The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country, as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem," the ICC stated in an official press release via The Indian Express.

Cricket leaders are working quickly to find a solution this week. They might move the match to a neutral location so both teams feel safe. If they find a middle ground, the sport's biggest source of income is saved. If they fail, the most famous rivalry in cricket could disappear for a long time. Everyone is waiting to see if "better sense," as Ashwin puts it, wins the day.

Advertisment