The diplomatic fight over the India-Pakistan cricket schedule just won't go away. It all started back during the 2025 Champions Trophy when the BCCI made it official: they aren't sending the Indian team across the border.
To bridge the gap, then, the ICC used a hybrid model where India played their games at a neutral spot. But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hasn't forgotten that move, and the tension has only worsened.
Things have hit a breaking point now that the Pakistan government has barred its team from taking the field for their February 15 World Cup clash against India in Colombo. Right now, the ICC is still scrambling to find a middle ground. The whole situation is stuck in limbo, leaving fans and sponsors in the dark while the administrators argue over whether the tournament even works without its biggest money-maker.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s take on Pakistan boycotting the IND vs PAK game in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15
Sanjay Manjrekar didn't mince words about the drama. He argued that skipping an India-Pakistan match wouldn't actually hurt the sport as much as people think. In his view, the rivalry is riding on its old reputation rather than on how the teams actually play today. He even called the current Pakistan squad minnows compared to the powerhouse teams they had back in the '90s.
The former Indian cricketer also pointed out the massive gap between India's thriving youth system and the lack of progress in Pakistan. According to him, this lopsided growth makes for a boring, predictable game. He thinks the real glory now comes from beating top-tier sides like Australia or South Africa. Basically, Manjrekar feels the tournament is still plenty valuable even if this classic matchup never happens.
“Honestly, if the India-Pakistan match does not happen, it’s no big deal. For a long time now, the actual game hasn’t lived up to the hype. Earlier, in the 90s and before, Pakistan was a strong team, so beating them felt special. But now, it almost feels like India is playing against minnows,” he said.
“That’s how much Pakistan cricket has declined. I saw it in the Asia Cup as well. If you compare the young players coming through India’s system with those from Pakistan, the difference is huge—like night and day,” Manjrekar added.
He concluded, “Even without an India-Pakistan match, there are still games against Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa to watch. Those are the matches that matter and the ones India needs to win for fans to feel proud. For me, it’s a non-event and doesn’t lower the value of the tournament.”
Quality over hype
Manjrekar has a point. Good cricket should matter more than forced hype. Sure, broadcasters love the massive TV ratings this rivalry brings in, but the actual games often don't live up to the massive build-up.
When media outlets over-hype a lopsided match, they ignore the other great teams in the mix; teams that are actually a threat to India winning the trophy. Moving away from the obsession with this one political grudge match might actually be good for cricket. It would let us focus on better, more competitive games. The sport is at its best when the match is intense, and lately, other rivalries have offered way more grit and excitement than this old story.
