That’s what Indian media pundits and former cricketers were claiming when talk began about the PCB’s strong reaction to Bangladesh being excluded from the tournament. They thought it was just an empty threat — that Pakistan would never actually take such a step.
However, when the Government of Pakistan officially stopped the national team from playing against India in the World Cup, panic broke out. Then Indian analysts began saying, “Just like Pakistani cricketers retire and come back, the board will also change its mind.”
But when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised the issue of boycotting India in a cabinet meeting, the neighbors finally realized how serious things had become. The tone quickly shifted — from threats of fines and sanctions to pleas and appeals.
It went so far that even the Sri Lankan board was made to write a letter saying:
“Dear brothers, we’ve helped you many times in difficult situations; if you don’t play this match, we’ll suffer huge losses.”
For the first time in a long while, both the ICC and the Indian board are genuinely worried. If the match doesn’t take place, the estimated loss is around 250 million dollars — which translates to billions of rupees in Pakistani currency. The real losses, however, will be far higher.
Betting syndicates stand to lose billions as well. The Indian broadcaster is putting immense pressure on the ICC, saying:
“Fix this issue — or forget about getting our money; we’ll see you in court.”
This one match alone generates as much revenue as the rest of the World Cup combined. That’s precisely why India — despite its constant anti-Pakistan rhetoric — always agrees to play against Pakistan in major events. Broadcasters pay huge sums for media rights under the guarantee that the India–Pakistan clash will happen.
Such deals in India aren’t possible without lining the pockets of powerful individuals, which is why politicians suddenly abandon their “patriotic” talk when it comes to cricket money. India takes around 40% of ICC’s total earnings, while Pakistan gets only 5–6%.
Would the earnings be the same if India were playing Uganda instead of Pakistan? If you’re earning money off Pakistan’s name, shouldn’t Pakistan get a fair share too?
Bangladesh, being a poor and less influential cricket nation, was easily thrown out of the event. The PCB did the right thing by supporting them. Meanwhile, countries like England, New Zealand, and Australia have remained silent spectators — though they’re always the first to preach about principles and fairness.
The situation has now gone too far. Pakistan cannot be intimidated by threats of penalties or bans. The boycott decision was surely made after full legal review and consultation with lawyers.
When India can violate agreements in the past, why can’t Pakistan, especially when it has a solid justification? If a government itself stops a team from playing, how can that team defy the state’s directive?
Perhaps this one move will finally open some eyes. When their pockets are hit, the ICC will realize the reality. For years, India has refused to play bilateral series with Pakistan and everyone stayed silent. Now that Pakistan has refused to play just one match, there’s an uproar.
They say most of cricket’s revenue comes from India — maybe partly true because of its large population — but are all sponsors Indian? Look at this very World Cup: many major sponsors are from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other countries. Were there no World Cups in the past? How did the “white” boards find sponsors back then? Have those countries gone bankrupt now?
In truth, once the money from India started pouring in, everyone got complacent and abandoned other markets. The result?
A company that wanted to invest in the Big Bash pulled out, saying: “We’ve been disrespected — Cricket Australia only wants IPL people involved.”
Whether it’s England’s The Hundred or South Africa’s SA20, Indian money rules everywhere. A day will come when these boards will regret losing control.
Pakistan, on the other hand, is standing firmly on the path of truth and principle. Yes, we will face financial loss due to the boycott — but sometimes it’s necessary to teach a lesson. Thanks to the PSL, the PCB now has financial stability. Even if the case goes to court, Pakistan’s position will remain strong.
The hypocrisy, though, is astounding: Indians refuse to shake hands during matches, their former cricketers boycott Legends League games featuring Pakistanis — yet now they ask, “Why aren’t you playing?”
The biggest joke is India claiming that “politics should be kept out of sports.” These are the same people who said Pakistan would be barred from “selected matches,” but now that Pakistan has stood firm, they are rattled.
Pakistan has already played its first World Cup match, proving it’s not afraid. The truth is, when you stand for what’s right, others fear you. Indians claimed Pakistan would do nothing — yet if it doesn’t matter to them, why is their media and social media in such an uproar?
Now, the ICC is trying to resolve the issue through backdoor channels. To restore trust, it must first announce that Bangladesh, despite being unable to play, will still get its full World Cup revenue share, and players should be compensated too — because they were simply following government orders.
The ICC should also increase Pakistan’s share. The PCB must now move forward cautiously — and never trust India. After February 15, their tone will change again. Promises were made to former chairman Najam Sethi too, but once India got Pakistan’s vote for the Big Three, it forgot everything.
Even now, any such promises shouldn’t be trusted. If we are alone today, so be it — tomorrow, when India starts threatening England, Australia, and others, they’ll realize the truth. Maybe then the world cricket order will finally change. Until that day, Pakistan must fight this battle alone.