Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the national cricket team to participate in a T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo, resolving a standoff that lasted a week. Sharif stated that based on the results of discussions and at the request of friendly nations, Pakistan is mandated to compete against India to uphold the cricketing spirit and promote the sport globally.
The decision marks a turnaround following intensive negotiations over the weekend to resolve the match boycott. Representatives from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) engaged in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Lahore on Sunday to reach a resolution.
India-Pakistan matches are highly lucrative in cricket, generating substantial revenue from broadcasting, sponsorships, and advertising. The ongoing 20-team tournament faced political tensions, particularly after Bangladesh’s refusal to play in India due to security concerns, leading to their replacement by Scotland.
In a show of protest, Pakistan initially declined to face India in their Group A fixture. However, after defeating the Netherlands in the tournament opener, Pakistan risked losing points with a match forfeit, potentially impacting their tournament progression.
Recent developments revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket, the Emirates Cricket Board, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board urged PCB to proceed with the India match. The ICC confirmed that no penalties would be imposed on Bangladesh and announced that Bangladesh would host an ICC event before the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed readiness for the Pakistan fixture, emphasizing that India was prepared to play. In response, Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha noted that the team was following government directives regarding the match against India.
Bangladesh commended the efforts of PCB, ICC, and all parties involved in addressing the challenges. BCB President Aminul Islam appreciated Pakistan’s support and encouraged Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup match against India for the benefit of the cricket ecosystem.
Notably, India and Pakistan typically face each other in multi-national cricket events like the World Cup or Champions Trophy.
