The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, has attached three key conditions in talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
A nearly four-hour trilateral meeting involving the ICC, PCB and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was held on Sunday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. While no official statement followed, sources said the discussions suggested progress toward resolving the impasse.
According to Indian and Pakistani media reports, the PCB placed three major demands before the ICC: financial compensation for Bangladesh following its removal from the World Cup, assurance of Bangladesh’s participation fee despite not playing in the tournament, and the allocation of future hosting rights for an ICC event, either solely or jointly to Bangladesh.
ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja urged the PCB to withdraw its boycott decision.
The ICC clarified that there is no provision for separate compensation but assured that Bangladesh would receive its full share of ICC revenue. Khwaja also advised the PCB to pursue the matter through board meetings or arbitration rather than disrupting on-field action.
The meeting also addressed the timing of the boycott call, made just 10 days before the tournament began.
The ICC sought legal clarification from the PCB and warned of significant financial losses and the possibility of membership suspension or termination if the match does not take place. The PCB, however, believes it has a strong legal footing based on past bilateral disputes and precedents.
The PCB will now consult the Pakistani government on the outcomes of the talks. Subject to government approval, Pakistan is expected to make a final decision on playing India on February 15 in Colombo.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had backed the boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh.
