India, Feb. 3 -- History shows that sporting boycotts rarely remain contained to the original grievance. They metastasise-triggering sanctions, financial penalties, governance disputes, and diplomatic isolation. Pakistan's decision to participate in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup while refusing to play its match against India represents a far more consequential escalation than Bangladesh's earlier withdrawal. It drags the International Cricket Council (ICC) into uncharted governance territory, exposes the Pakistani board to punitive action, and risks destabilising the commercial architecture on which global cricket now rests.

Unlike Dhaka's exit, which removed a single team from the tournament, Islamabad's move strikes at its core. Ind...