The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday denied claims that it contacted the International Cricket Council (ICC) about boycotting the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India on February 15. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said on social media, “I categorically reject the claim by Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta that the PCB approached the ICC.” Earlier, Gupta had posted that the PCB reached out to ICC after the ICC warned of legal consequences, seeking dialogue to resolve the issue. PCB’s Amir Mir added, “As usual, sections of the Indian media are busy circulating fiction. A little patience and time will clearly show who actually went knocking and who didn’t.” However, an AFP report quoted a source saying the PCB contacted ICC following formal communication, with ICC wanting dialogue, not confrontation. The Pakistan government approved the team’s T20 World Cup participation but said Pakistan would not play their scheduled Group A match against India in Colombo. This match between arch-rivals is highly lucrative, generating millions from broadcasting and sponsorships. The tournament atmosphere is tense after Bangladesh withdrew citing security concerns and were replaced by Scotland. Pakistan’s boycott affects points and net run rate, after their win against Netherlands. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed his team will travel to Colombo. Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for over ten years, only meeting in global events. Sri Lanka Cricket urged Pakistan to reconsider, warning that a boycott would harm Sri Lanka’s tourism and finances. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Agha said if they face India in later knockout stages, they would consult the government.