Desi Talk

20 CITY VIEWS February 6, 2026 www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know P akistan will boycott their February 15 match of the Twenty20World Cup against arch-rivals India in Colombo, the Pakistan government said on Sunday while approving the team’s participation in the global showpiece. “The government… grants approval to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the ICCWorld T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India,” the post on the government’s official X account said without elaborating on reasons behind the decision. Pakistan, who are scheduled to play all their matches in Sri Lanka, would forfeit two points if they boycotted the India match. There was no clarity on what would happen should the neighbours meet in a knockout game. Bilateral cricket remains suspended between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a military conflict that nearly snowballed into a fully-fledged war last year. Their fraught political relations prompted the govern- ing International Cricket Council (ICC) to broker an ar- rangement allowing them to play at a neutral venue when their neighbour hosts a global tournament. The 2009 champions had earlier announced their squad for the 20-team tournament beginning on Febru- ary 7, maintaining that their participation was subject to government approval. Their decision to boycott the India match is a serious blow to the tournament because an India-Pakistan clash remains cricket’s greatest blockbuster, which is why they are clubbed together in the same group in ICC events. The ICC said it was awaiting an official communica- tion from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) conveying their “position of selective participation”. “While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the inter- est of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan,” the Dubai-based body said in a statement. “The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the signifi- cant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket eco- system, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of.” ASIA CUP PRECEDENT The governing body said a successful tournament was its priority, while sounding an optimistic note. “The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20World Cup which should also be the responsibility of all its members including the PCB,” it said. “It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakehold- ers.” This is not the first example of geopolitical tension affecting the tournament. Bangladesh have been replaced by Scotland in the global showpiece following their refusal to travel to India over safety concerns. The latest setback is a continuation of the soured India-Pakistan relations which manifested in last year’s Asia Cup in Dubai. India beat Pakistan three times in the tournament, in- cluding in the September 28 final, but declined to shake hands with their opponents and refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister. Namibia, United States and the Netherlands are also in Group A from which two sides will advance to the tour- nament’s Super Eight stage. “I extend my best wishes to the Pakistan team for the World Cup,” Naqvi, also the PCB chairman, was quoted as saying by Geo TV. “I hope the team will return with the T20World Cup trophy.” The PCB supported Bangladesh’s demands to shift their matches to Sri Lanka. The ICC ruled out any threat to Bangladesh players or fans in India and rejected their late demand for a schedule change. -Reuters T he India Pavilion at NY NOW, jointly organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and Expo Bazaar, a subsid- iary of India Expo Mart & Centre (IEML), marked a significant milestone in strengthening India’s long-term export strategy for the U.S. home and lifestyle market. The pavilion showcased a curated se- lection of products frommultiple Indian factories and artisan clusters, aimed at reflecting the depth, diversity, and crafts- manship of India’s handicrafts sector. “More importantly, the initiative dem- onstrated a shared commitment by EPCH and Expo Bazaar to establish a scalable Just-In-Time (JIT) supply-chain model, enabling U.S. retailers to access Indian products with immediate local availability through U.S.-based fulfilment infrastruc- ture,” the press release from organizers said. CoA Member, EPCH K. N. Tulasi high- lighted the strong commercial relevance of the initiative and expressed confidence in its long-term potential. In his speech, he noted that this model significantly enhances India’s competitiveness in the U.S. market by bridging the gap between traditional sourcing timelines and the evolving needs of American retailers. The availability of Indian products through local fulfilment, he added, offers buyers greater flexibility, faster replenishment cycles, and improved inventory planning. Senior Vice President-Global Opera- tions at Expo Bazaar Jitin Prashar, empha- sized that the Just-In-Time supply chain being developed by Expo Bazaar repre- sents a fundamental shift in how Indian handicrafts are positioned for interna- tional markets. By building a responsive supply chain originating from India and supported by overseas warehousing, Expo Bazaar is enabling an efficient, demand-driven, and scalable export model, Prashar added. He further highlighted that this ap- proach allows U.S. buyers to access a vast and continuously evolving product as- sortment with significantly reduced lead times, while simultaneously empowering Indian manufacturers and artisan clusters with sustained demand visibility. The model not only simplifies procure- ment for international retailers but also creates a structural pathway for increasing exports from India by aligning production, inventory, and distribution more closely with market demand, he noted. Prashar said Expo Bazaar intends to participate in additional leading interna- tional trade shows to expand awareness and adoption of this initiative across global markets. Director General, EPCH and Chairman, India Expo Mart & Centre Dr. Rakesh Kumar, underscored the broader strategic vision underpinning this collaboration. He noted that Expo Bazaar has already established similar showrooms and fulfilment centers across key European markets, creating a strong foundation for international distribution. Building on this success, there are plans to further strengthen the ecosystem by developing fulfilment and consolidation capabilities within India, enabling faster and more efficient inventory replenishment from India to the U.S. and Europe, he said. Such an integrated, end-to-end supply-chain framework is essential for positioning India as a reliable, responsive, and future-ready sourcing destination, Kumar said, adding that initiatives like the India Pavilion at NY NOW exemplify how industry-led execution, supported by institutional frameworks, can unlock new growth avenues for Indian handicrafts in global markets. Pakistan To Boycott T20 World Cup Group Match Against India Handicrafts Bazaar At NY NOW India Pavilion Reinforces India’s ‘Just-In-Time’ Export Vision For The U.S. Market PHOTO:REUTERS/SATISH KUMAR/FILE PHOTO PHOTO:REUTERS/SATISH KUMAR Cricket – ICC Men’s Champions Trophy – Group A – India v Pakistan – Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – February 23, 2025 India and Pakistan fans react in the stands Siddharth Tyagi, Deputy Director, EPCH, Jitin Prashar, Senior VP, Expo Bazaar and K N Tulasi, CoA Member EPCH, at the India Pavilion in NY Now. SPORTS