Pakistan’s India Boycott: The Only Lever Left to Shake the Cricketing Ecosystem, Says Mark Butcher

Islamabad | 4 Feb 2026 Former England batter Mark Butcher has called Pakistan’s decision to boycott their T20 World Cup group match against India “the only lever” the PCB can pull to make an impact, warning that it could be a disaster both for India and the ICC. Speaking on Stick to Cricket, Butcher highlighted that the India-Pakistan fixture has long ceased to be just a sporting contest and has instead become a financial guarantee for global tournaments. “But historically India and Pakistan don’t play each other bilaterally anymore… however in ICC tournaments they are always placed in the same group,” Butcher said. “Why? Because it is the most lucrative fixture in the world of cricket and, some say, in the world of sport… So those two teams are always in the same group. Now, Pakistan are in a situation whereby they’re the sort of… the younger brother… and India pretty much gets its own way.” He explained that this scheduling impacts the entire tournament. “When this stuff happens it affects all of the other teams because their program has to change, they have to fly out of the country to meet India where organizers want, and everybody else has to fit in.” Butcher linked this to past ICC practices, saying the Champions Trophy “hybrid” precedent showed how the most powerful stakeholders can reshape events to preserve marquee matchups. According to Butcher, Pakistan’s selective boycott is less about confrontation and more about leverage. “Pakistan have basically pulled a blinder… ‘Okay, we still want to be involved in the tournament. However, we’re not going to play against India because of what you’ve done with Bangladesh…’ And for India, that’s a disaster. For the ICC, it’s a disaster because of the financial size of that fixture. It’s kind of the only lever Pakistan has in this situation.” His warning is clear: as long as the India-Pakistan clash remains the financial centre of global cricket, dispensations and adjustments will continue to favour the superpowers, often at the cost of other participating teams. Pakistan Boycott Against India: The Only Lever to Shake Cricket, Says Mark Butcher Former England batter Mark Butcher said Pakistan’s boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India is “the only lever” the PCB can pull to hit where it hurts the most. Speaking on Stick to Cricket, he highlighted that the India-Pakistan fixture is no longer just about sport but a financial giant for the ICC. “But historically India and Pakistan don’t play each other bilaterally anymore… however in ICC tournaments they are always placed in the same group,” Butcher said. “Why? Because it is the most lucrative fixture in the world of cricket and, some say, in the world of sport… So those two teams are always in the same group.” He added that the way matches are scheduled affects all other teams. “When this stuff happens it affects all of the other teams because their program has to change, they have to fly out of the country to meet India where organizers want, and everybody else has to fit in.” Butcher explained Pakistan’s move is more about leverage than defiance. “Pakistan have basically pulled a blinder… ‘Okay, we still want to be involved in the tournament. However, we’re not going to play against India because of what you’ve done with Bangladesh…’ And for India, that’s a disaster. For the ICC, it’s a disaster because of the financial size of that fixture. It’s kind of the only lever Pakistan has in this situation.”