T20 World Cup 2026: India-Pakistan cricket match is not just a game, but it is associated with crores of earnings and emotions. When teams of two countries face each other in a tournament like T20 World Cup, the eyes of the whole world are focused on that match. But if this match does not happen at the last moment, then the question is not just about victory or defeat. Rather, the real question becomes who will compensate for such a huge loss and who will get the insurance money?

Announcement of not playing India-Pak match

Just before the start of T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan’s indication of not playing the match against India on February 15 has created a stir in the cricket world. This match is considered to be the biggest attraction of the tournament. The earnings, viewership and publicity related to India-Pak match are many times more than any other match. In such a situation, missing one match can change the economic picture of the entire tournament.

How much money is at stake in this one match?

The commercial value of the India-Pakistan match is huge. Including broadcasting rights, advertising, ticket sales and sponsorship, its value is estimated to be around 500 million dollars, which is thousands of crores in Indian rupees. Talking about advertisements alone, Rs 2.5 to 4 million are spent for a 10 second slot. In such a situation, cancellation of the match is a direct huge economic blow.

What is match insurance?

In view of such a big event, special event insurance is provided for high-profile matches like India-Pakistan. This includes risks related to security, medical arrangements and events. Generally, the expenditure on security and necessary arrangements is around Rs 1 crore, while the insurance cover is worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Insurance cover of about Rs 200 crore was taken for a T20 match in 2016.

Who will get the insurance money if the match is cancelled?

If the India-Pakistan match is cancelled, the insurance money is mainly given to the organizers and the parties concerned. First of all come the tournament organizers and the cricket board, who have spent heavily on the preparation of the event, stadium booking and logistics. Apart from this, broadcasters also get relief from insurance, because they suffer loss of income from advertising and broadcasting. But this is valid only when not a single ball has been bowled.

What will happen to sponsors and broadcasters?

Broadcasters face the biggest blow in case the India-Pak match does not take place. It is estimated that TV and digital platforms alone may suffer a loss of up to Rs 300 crore. This loss is partially compensated through insurance. The amount related to sponsorship is also covered as per the insurance terms, so that the companies do not have to bear the entire loss.

Also read: Balochistan History: After separation from India, Balochistan was an independent country for 227 days, then how did it become a slave of Pakistan?

Pakistan has decided not to play the match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. That means there will be no match between India and Pakistan on 15th February. On this, Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi issued a statement and took a dig at Pakistan.

Terrorism took over the responsibility of BCCI: Priyanka

Priyanka Chaturvedi posted on social media account What BCCI could not do, is now being done by the Pakistan team? ICC should now impose a fine on them so that they have to take loans from IMF and World Bank to pay the fine?

What Priyanka meant to say was that the BCCI which could not take strong steps to cancel the match against Pakistan, is now being done by the Pakistan team itself. That means India is running away from the match. Priyanka scoffed at the use of the word ‘terrorism’ and demanded ICC to impose heavy fine on Pakistan so that they feel the economic pressure.

Pakistan slapped BCCI on face: Priyanka

Priyanka Chaturvedi said, ‘Pakistan’s decision is a slap on the face of India’s Sports Minister and BCCI, when we had to take a decision against them, we played a match with them and now they are boycotting us.’

This decision also came because earlier Bangladesh had refused to come to India, so ICC included Scotland in their place. Pakistan complained about this and now they themselves withdrew from the match.

Pakistani team is in the same group with India

In the T20 World Cup, all the 20 teams have been divided into four groups. Pakistan team is in Group A with India. Apart from these two, USA and Netherlands are also part of Group A. Now Pakistan will have to win against USA and Netherlands to reach Super 8. If they do this then they can reach the next stage of the tournament even without playing India.