Sourav Ganguly Slams PCB’s "Illogical" Boycott as ICC Negotiations Peak in Lahore

Speaking on the sidelines of an event on Sunday, Ganguly expressed bewilderment over the PCB's stance, noting that since the match is scheduled in Colombo, Sri Lanka, there is no logical reason for Pakistan to back out. "In a World Cup, every single point is crucial. I don't understand the logic of forfeiting points over political reasons when you are already playing the rest of the tournament in Sri Lanka," Ganguly remarked, warning that such a move could ruin Pakistan's chances of progressing in the tournament.

The crisis began when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to travel to India for their group-stage matches due to security concerns. When the ICC rejected the BCB’s request for a venue change and subsequently replaced them with Scotland, the Pakistan government ordered the PCB to boycott the match against India as a mark of solidarity with Bangladesh. However, the standoff shifted to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium yesterday, where a marathon meeting took place between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul, and an ICC delegation led by Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja.

Reports from the meeting suggest that the PCB has used the boycott as a strategic bargaining chip, placing three major conditions before the ICC to return to the field:

Financial Compensation for BCB: Ensuring Bangladesh receives its full share of ICC revenue and a participation fee despite their removal from the tournament.

Restoration of Bilateral Ties: Pushing for a roadmap to resume India-Pakistan bilateral series, which have been frozen for over a decade.

Revenue & Protocol Reforms: Demanding a larger share of the ICC revenue model and stricter enforcement of on-field conduct (handshake protocols) following past tensions.

While the PCB officially maintains its "government-ordered" boycott, sources within the board indicate that internal pressure is mounting to play the match to avoid a potential $250 million loss for broadcasters and severe ICC sanctions, including membership suspension. Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within the next 24 hours for a final directive. As of this afternoon, momentum is shifting toward a potential "U-turn" by Pakistan, provided the ICC offers a face-saving diplomatic compromise.