T20 WC: What is 'force majeure' clause PCB wants to invoke for India match?

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come under scrutiny after the International Cricket Council (ICC) sought a detailed explanation for its attempt to invoke the ‘force majeure’ clause to justify refusing to play the T20 World Cup match against India. The global body has questioned how Pakistan can opt out of a single fixture while continuing to participate in the rest of the tournament, citing government directions.

The ICC has formally asked the PCB to explain the legal and contractual basis of its decision, particularly after the board placed the responsibility on the Pakistan government. According to a media report from news agency PTI, the ICC has made it clear that pulling out of one match while playing others raises serious concerns over tournament integrity and contractual compliance.

The PCB had earlier written to the ICC, seeking to invoke the ‘force majeure’ clause after a government tweet barred the team from playing the February 15 clash against India in Colombo. 

Force majeure is a contractual provision that allows a party to be excused from its obligations due to extraordinary circumstances beyond its control, such as war, natural disasters, government actions, or public emergencies.

However, for the clause to apply, the affected party must prove that the event was unforeseeable and unavoidable, and that it took all reasonable steps to minimise the impact. Legal experts note that political preferences or selective inconvenience generally do not meet the threshold required to invoke force majeure.

The Pakistan government has reportedly decided that the team will boycott only the India fixture, while playing the rest of the tournament. The ICC, however, has sought proof from the PCB on the steps it took to mitigate the situation, including whether it explored alternatives, sought exemptions, or engaged in dialogue before opting out.

ICC has also outlined the evidentiary standards required to trigger force majeure, along with the sporting, commercial, and governance implications of withdrawing from a scheduled match.

In its communication, the ICC is understood to have underlined that selective participation undermines the core premise of a global tournament. The world body has warned that an invalid invocation of force majeure could expose the PCB to breach-of-contract claims, disciplinary action under ICC regulations, and potential financial damages.