Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 3: Pakistan’s declaration that it will not take the field against India at the World Cup has pushed the tournament into an unusual and uncomfortable situation, with ICC regulations clearly favouring India if the match is forfeited.

Under the ICC’s playing conditions, the procedure is straightforward. India will travel to Colombo as scheduled, train and attend the pre-match press conference. If Pakistan then refuses to take the field, the match will be officially forfeited, awarding India two points while Pakistan get none. Importantly, Pakistan’s net run rate will also suffer, a factor that often proves decisive in tightly contested World Cup group stages.

The only alternative scenario would arise if India themselves do not travel to Colombo. In that case, the fixture would be treated as cancelled and both teams would share points. However, with India expected to fulfil all formalities, the responsibility — and the sporting consequences — rest squarely with Pakistan.

While rare, forfeitures at World Cups are not unprecedented. During the 1996 ODI World Cup, Australia and the West Indies refused to play matches in Sri Lanka following a bomb blast in Colombo, handing Sri Lanka full points. In 2003, England forfeited their match against Zimbabwe in Harare over political concerns, and New Zealand declined to play Kenya in Nairobi citing security risks.

ICC sources indicate that Pakistan is unlikely to successfully invoke force majeure, which generally applies only to unforeseeable and unavoidable events such as natural disasters or extreme security threats. Political objections alone are not considered sufficient unless there is a demonstrable risk to safety or feasibility.

Beyond the immediate points table, ICC sources warn that severe sanctions, including possible suspension, could be imposed on the Pakistan Cricket Board if the refusal is deemed a breach of participation obligations. While any such action would take time, the precedent for strong ICC intervention exists.

For now, the immediate impact is sporting. India stand to gain two points without a ball being bowled, while Pakistan risk not only damaging their World Cup campaign but also their standing within the ICC framework. What was expected to be the tournament’s most-watched match may instead be remembered as its most consequential non-event.