Mumbai: Uncertainty continues to surround the high-profile India–Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) yet to begin ticket sales for the much-anticipated encounter scheduled for February 15 in Sri Lanka.
Both teams appear to be moving ahead with their travel plans. Pakistan’s squad has already arrived in Colombo, while India captain Suryakumar Yadav has confirmed that his side’s travel arrangements for the match are in place. Despite this, the ICC has not made tickets available for the fixture, even though the game remains listed at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
What has raised eyebrows is that tickets for all other matches at the Colombo venue — including Super 8 fixtures — are already on sale. The only exception is the India–Pakistan group game, with the ICC’s ticketing portal stating that sales will begin “soon.” The stadium is slated to host five league matches and three Super 8 games during the tournament.
The delay is reportedly linked to developments in Pakistan, where the government has advised the national team not to play against India. While these instructions have been made public, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is understood to have not formally communicated its final stance to the ICC. As a result, tournament organisers are reluctant to release tickets without clarity on whether the match will actually take place.
A senior official tracking the situation said the ICC is proceeding cautiously to avoid potential financial losses. “Without an official confirmation from the PCB, the ICC cannot risk opening ticket sales. Once the situation is clear, and if the match goes ahead, tickets are expected to sell out very quickly,” the source said.
Speaking at a captains’ interaction in Colombo, Pakistan skipper Salman Agha reiterated that the matter was beyond the players’ control. “This decision is taken at the government level. As players, we respect whatever decision is made,” he said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the issue, stating that his government has taken a firm position not to play India, arguing that sports should remain free from political influence.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), one of the co-hosts of the tournament, has urged the PCB to reconsider its stance. In a letter, SLC warned that a boycott could result in significant financial losses for multiple stakeholders involved in the World Cup. Colombo is also set to host the first semifinal and the final should Pakistan progress that far, replacing the originally planned venues of Kolkata and Ahmedabad.
In a separate development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the launch of Phase 3 of ticket sales for the tournament. Phase 1 began on December 11, 2025, followed by Phase 2 on January 14. Tickets have so far been released for India’s league matches against the USA and the Netherlands.
For now, fans remain on hold, waiting for clarity on whether cricket’s most watched rivalry will take centre stage in Colombo as planned.
