T20 World Cup 2026: Fans Left to Pay the Price for Political U-Turns

 

Cricket fans. Image :X

Soon after the Pakistan Prime Minister announced that Pakistan would selectively boycott the India match, a number of friends contacted me asking whether they should cancel their flights and hotels to Sri Lanka. The truth is, I did not have an answer at that point, except to say that a U-turn could not be ruled out.

Some had booked hotels with free cancellation, allowing them to cancel without charge up to a certain date – for three of them, that date was February 7. Each of them went ahead and cancelled, not wanting to lose the entire amount. It seemed reasonable: after all, the Prime Minister had made the statement.

On February 9 came the U-turn and confirmation that Pakistan would indeed play against India. Now, the same hotels cost three times as much, or more. Rooms are scarce, and those still available are priced at a premium. Flight costs to Sri Lanka have soared. Each of these fans now stands to lose a significant sum.

This is where the situation becomes problematic. Will anyone speak about these fans? Do they matter to Mohsin Naqvi and his ilk? Will it ever affect them? They can shift their stance and rearrange their bookings without consequence, for they do not bear the cost. Everything is paid for and taken care of. That is not the case for the ordinary supporter.

Fans are the lifeblood of the sport. Their money funds broadcasters and drives ticket sales. They spend heavily on hospitality packages and travel – and now, many are losing out financially.

In this entire saga, cricket fans have once again been taken for a ride. Pakistan has its face-saver and will continue its posturing before the domestic electorate. Bangladesh has its own face-saver, claiming it was not penalised and secured an additional ICC event between 2028 and 2031. The ICC will say it has salvaged the fixture.

But will any of these bodies talk about the fan? Who compensates the supporter who has lost out? Caught in the crossfire of political bluster and diplomatic manoeuvring, these men and women are the ones who ultimately lose.

This is an age-old pattern in international sport. The fan, central to it all, remains the most neglected constituency. Taken for granted, pushed aside, exploited, and rarely afforded the respect they deserve.

As the organisers gear up for the India–Pakistan spectacle in Colombo on February 15, spare a thought for the supporters who will miss out because of what has unfolded over the past ten days. They clearly deserve better.

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