The international cricket calendar is in a tough spot right now. Big-time political moves are overshadowing the games. Tensions spiked earlier this week. The Pakistani government has told its national team they cannot play against India in the February 15 match in Colombo.
Even so, the government is letting them play in the rest of the T20 World Cup 2026. This move shows support for Bangladesh, especially after the International Cricket Council made a controversial call to swap Bangladesh for Scotland after a fight over venues and security.
So, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is stuck in a standoff with the sport's big bosses. This creates a tense mood just days before the tournament starts. The ICC has sent out strong warnings about protecting global events. Still, neither side is budging. Fans and broadcasters are left waiting in total suspense.
Ravichandran Ashwin has his say on the India-Pakistan game in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
In the middle of this mess, Ravichandran Ashwin shared some common-sense views on his YouTube channel. Speaking directly, the former Indian spinner said he doesn't think the boycott will last. He thinks things will change quickly.
“The India-Pakistan match will happen, 100 per cent. In fact, I think in the next 2–4 days, they will take back their boycott. That’s my hunch. I want to see this match,” Ashwin said.
He also explained why a long protest doesn't make sense by looking at the money. He noted, “There are a lot of business decisions around this. If Pakistan refuses to play, it could cost them a lot of money.” His comments ignore the political talk and point to the huge financial pressure that usually runs modern sports.
What will eventually happen?
In the end, the money behind international cricket makes a permanent boycott very unlikely. Broadcasters have put billions into the game and count on the massive TV numbers that only an India-Pakistan match can bring.
These groups will probably lean on everyone involved to fix the problem. On top of that, the PCB could face harsh penalties. These might include being suspended or losing a huge chunk of their funding. Such a blow would ruin their local cricket operations.
Political statements matter, but money usually forces people to find a middle ground at the last minute. So, we should expect a quick fix to appear soon. This will let the match go ahead. It shows that the sport runs on business logic more than political friendship.
