'PCB will reverse their boycott': Ravichandran Ashwin's bold prediction on India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash goes viral

India's cricketing legend Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Pakistan will likely reverse their decision to boycott the group-stage clash against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 within the next few days. He pointed out that a lot of business arrangements and planning go into an India-Pakistan match, which would collapse if the game didn’t happen.

Ravichandran Ashwin on Pakistan's boycott calls

The T20 World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on February 15 in Colombo. Ahead of the high-voltage clash, Pakistan announced that they will boycott their T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India to show solidarity with Bangladesh, who are replaced by Scotland.

“The India-Pakistan match will happen, 100 per cent. In fact, I think in the next 2–4 days, they will reverse their boycott. That’s my hunch. I want to see this match,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

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Why PCB calls to boycott T20 World Cup clash vs India

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier confirmed that its team would participate in the tournament, ending the uncertainty that briefly saw Bangladesh replaced by Scotland. However, the PCB also clarified that the team would not take the field against India in the group stage. The International Cricket Council (ICC) responded by saying it would try to resolve the issue through discussions.

Ashwin highlighted the financial and commercial implications of a boycott. “There are a lot of business decisions around this. If Pakistan refuses to play, it could create major losses for them,” he said.

Ashwin explained why Pakistan will take u-turn

He also compared this situation with past boycotts, like those in the 2003 World Cup, noting that previous teams such as Australia, New Zealand, and England chose not to play due to security concerns, unlike Pakistan’s current stance.

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“Pakistan already has the chance to play India at a neutral venue, so refusing to play a particular opponent doesn’t make much sense. They could face huge losses, including payments to broadcasters. I think they will have to compromise,” Ashwin added.

The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to start from February 7, defending champions India will start their campaign against the United States which will take place at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.