ISLAMABAD: Indian broadcasters could face losses of up to $500 million after Pakistan confirmed it will skip its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India, industry sources said.
Pakistan has cleared participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but announced it will not take the field for the February 15 fixture against India, citing solidarity with Bangladesh and concerns over recent ICC decisions.
Media analysts estimate that nearly half of the tournament’s overall commercial value is linked to the Pakistan-India clash, widely regarded as the biggest draw in international cricket. The absence of the match is expected to significantly impact advertising revenues and broadcast rights returns.
Sources added that the International Cricket Council may also lose millions of dollars in gate receipts if the match is officially forfeited.
Under ICC protocol, India must still travel to Sri Lanka, where the match was scheduled, complete pre-match formalities and await an official decision from the match referee before being awarded two points.
Government officials in Islamabad said Pakistan’s move follows objections over what they described as unequal treatment of Bangladesh in tournament arrangements. Pakistan later voiced support for Bangladesh after its cricket board raised security concerns about participating in matches hosted in India.
Despite forfeiting the India fixture, Pakistan remains eligible to advance in the group stage based on results from its remaining matches.
The ICC has yet to issue a formal statement on the financial impact of the boycott.
