The International Cricket Council (ICC) deputy chairman Imran Khwaja arrived in Lahore on Sunday for important discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The visit comes after Pakistan announced it would boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India.
According to PCB spokesperson Amir Mir, the ICC deputy chairman is scheduled to meet PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The meeting is expected to focus on the recent dispute and the broader situation surrounding the tournament.
Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam also reached Pakistan. Sources said he would attend the ICC’s emergency meeting along with other board officials. During his visit, the BCB chief is also expected to meet the PCB chairman before returning to Dhaka.
An ICC delegation, led by the deputy chairman, is also set to arrive later in the day. The delegation will discuss the issues that emerged after Pakistan decided to boycott the match against India, scheduled for February 15.
The dispute began after tensions rose between cricket boards in the region. Reports said Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League. The decision reportedly came after directions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Following the development, the BCB asked the ICC to move its matches outside India. However, the ICC rejected the request. The council later replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, stating that it was too late to change the schedule.
Meanwhile, the PCB has denied reports from Indian media that it offered dialogue to the ICC over the boycott issue. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir dismissed the claims and said no such proposal was made.
Matches between India and Pakistan are among the most valuable events in cricket. A single India–Pakistan T20 match is estimated to generate around $500 million in revenue. This includes broadcast rights, sponsorship deals, advertising, and ticket sales.
Advertising slots during the match also carry high prices. A 10-second commercial can cost between INR25 lakh and INR40 lakh. The official broadcaster is expected to face the biggest financial impact from the boycott.
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Sources said the ICC is seeking discussions to ease tensions. The visit of the ICC deputy chairman is seen as part of these efforts. Officials hope the talks in Lahore will help resolve the dispute before the tournament progresses further.
