For boycotting the match against India on February 15 T20 World Cup PCB sources said on Tuesday that the ICC has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board that it will face legal action against official broadcaster Jiostar.
The decision to boycott the match to be held in Colombo on February 15 was made at the behest of the Pakistan government, but the reasons for the decision have not been officially disclosed to the ICC.
According to a PTI report, the ICC is likely to withhold nearly US$35 million, Pakistan’s entire annual revenue share, and pay the broadcasters from that money.
Although chairman Mohsin Naqvi took advice from the board’s legal experts before apprising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the matter last week, PCB sources said the board was bracing for some serious consequences.
“If Pakistan relents and does not play against India, they will face financial penalties, possibly a lawsuit from the broadcasters and any attempt to approach the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) is likely to fail,” PCB sources told PTI.
The ICC’s DRC is an internal body and does not hear appeals against decisions made by its own board.
“The PCB may face problems regardless of the government’s directive not to play India as they are playing all their matches at a neutral venue (Sri Lanka) as per their wish instead of playing in India,” another PCB source said.
“Secondly, even though the Indian government has not given permission to its team to play in Pakistan, it has not barred them from playing against Pakistan at neutral venues in the Asia Cup or ICC tournaments even after the May standoff,” added board sources who closely monitor Naqvi.
The PCB is yet to inform the ICC in writing, but the boycott decision is being seen as an act of solidarity following Bangladesh’s ouster.
“When the ICC signed a four-year deal with the broadcaster for all ICC events, the deal included the Pakistan and India matches and the broadcaster paid the ICC on that basis,” explained the source.
“Therefore the broadcaster has the right to take the PCB and the ICC to court for a major breach of contract.”
Will Naqvi make a U-turn after Bangladesh elections?
There is a perception that Naqvi, who is also his country’s interior minister, will change his stance if general elections are held in Bangladesh on February 12 and a democratic government replaces the current government led by Muhammad Yunus.
“Naqvi is more of a politician than a cricket administrator and he is not at all concerned about the welfare of the national team. He is trying to use his position to score a brownie point and if elections are held on February 12, he might change that.”
“There are still two more days left for the Indian match and things may change. Or he knows Pakistan will be knocked out,” said another source who watches Pakistan cricket.
