Pakistan has formally decided to play its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, reversing an earlier government-backed decision to boycott the high-profile clash amid geopolitical tensions.
According to an official statement issued on Monday, the federal government directed the national cricket team to take the field for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture against India in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
“The government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the statement said.
The decision came shortly after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on consultations held with officials from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Sources said senior ICC officials held intensive talks with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCB President Aminul Islam on Sunday, aiming to persuade Pakistan to withdraw its boycott of the marquee encounter.
The government said it had reviewed formal requests from the BCB, along with supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other ICC member nations, seeking a practical resolution to the situation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reportedly received a telephone call from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision, citing the tournament’s importance for regional cooperation and Sri Lanka’s tourism-dependent economy.
Pakistan is scheduled to play all of its T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside India. Officials noted that the cancellation of the Pakistan–India match would have caused significant financial losses for the host nation.
Pakistan’s earlier decision to boycott the India match followed the ICC’s move to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after it refused to travel to India over security concerns. Scotland was later named as Bangladesh’s replacement. In a show of solidarity with Bangladesh, Pakistan had announced it would not play against India — a move that marked the first such boycott in the history of India–Pakistan clashes at ICC events.
The unprecedented stance triggered intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy, including meetings, phone calls and negotiations, culminating in the ICC’s engagement with both South Asian boards over the weekend.
Following Pakistan’s reversal, the ICC welcomed the decision, saying all member boards had agreed to honour their commitments. “It was agreed that all members will respect their obligations and do everything necessary to ensure the successful conduct of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the ICC said in a brief statement.
With the boycott lifted, the much-anticipated Pakistan–India showdown is now set to go ahead as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo.
