MUMBAI: Almost all the cricket-playing nations will feel the pinch if the high profile India-Pakistan clash on February 15 doesn't take place at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled to begin on Saturday. Though the revenue loss will start trickling down as the match day approaches, the nation that has already started to feel the squeeze after Pakistan's decision to forfeit the match, is Sri Lanka -- the co-host.
As pointed out by TNIE, this could result in cancellation of flight tickets, hotels and affect ancillary businesses. In its bid to convince Pakistan, the SLC has also written to the Pakistan Cricket Board a couple of days ago urging them to change their decision as it will not only hurt Sri Lankan cricket but also the country's economy.
"Yes, we have written a letter to the PCB," Bandula Dissanayake, secretary SLC, told this daily. Speaking on the content of the letter, Dissanayake said, "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. 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."
As was reported by this daily, the clash between the arch-rivals sustains many countries lower down in the food chain. The full effect of it would be visible in the next cycle as the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be left with no option than reducing the funding of its members — both full time and associate - with the latter being the worst hit as the contests between two arch-rivals are considered to be the money spinners generating a huge revenue.
Among several efforts taken by the SLC for PCB was its decision to continue the team's tour of Pakistan last year despite the explosion by a suicide bomber that killed 12 in Islamabad hours before the ODI match between the two countries in Rawalpindi. The decision was taken despite more than half-a-dozen of players wanting to leave due to security concerns.
Despite a few departures, Sri Lanka continued the tour bringing in replacements for a few players. The series comprising three ODIs and as many T20Is saw a minor rescheduling but it proceeded to completion.
Sri Lanka Cricket's commitment gained more importance given the 2009 terrorist attack on the bus carrying Sri Lankan players in Lahore. Six players got wounded in the attack that killed six police officers and two civilians. That incident that saw 12 gunmen armed with rifles and grenades targeting players led to decade-long suspension of international cricket in Pakistan. Again, it was Sri Lanka that toured Pakistan in 2019 to mark the return of Test cricket in the country. Zimbabwe toured Pakistan in 2015 for limited-overs matches but Sri Lanka's visit led to full restoration of cricketing ties with Pakistan.
Dissanayake, however, was not amused with no response from his Pakistan counterparts even after two days. "The match looks to be off," he feared. The SLC secretary asserted that the board will not approach the PCB again as it has made its stand clear and now it's up to the PCB to decide.