PCB could face legal action from JioStar if they boycott India game in T20 WC

According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned the PCB that it could face a prospect of legal action from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 official broadcast JioStar for boycotting the group stage fixture against India on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo.

Notably, the Pakistan government has permitted the national team to play the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, but denied permission to lock horns with India in the group stage fixture on February 15.

As reported by PTI, there is a possibility that the ICC will withhold the entire annual revenue share of Pakistan, which is around USD 35 million, and pay the broadcasters from their share. Interestingly, the PCB is yet to inform its boycott decision to the ICC. 

"If Pakistan doesn't relent and play against India, not only will they face financial penalties, perhaps a lawsuit from broadcasters but also any efforts to go to the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) are likely to fail," a PCB source told PTI.

"The PCB might face problems regardless of their government directive to not play India as they are playing all their matches at a neutral venue (Sri Lanka) as per their wishes and not in India," another PCB source said.

"Secondly, while the Indian government has not given permission to its team to play in Pakistan, it has not stopped them from playing against Pakistan at neutral venues in Asia Cup or ICC events even after the May conflict," the board source, who tracks Naqvi closely, added.

"When the ICC signed its four year deal with the broadcaster for all ICC events, the contract included Pakistan and India matches based on which the broadcaster made the payments to the ICC," the source explained.

"So the broadcaster will be within its rights to take the PCB and ICC to court over a major breach of the contract."

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