KATHMANDU: Pakistan has agreed to play the much-anticipated match against India in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, ending a prolonged deadlock that emerged after Pakistan had refused to face India 10 days ago.
The Pakistan government and the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued separate statements confirming that the match between the two arch-rivals will be held in Colombo on February 15.
According to the Pakistan government, ICC member nations including Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to boycott the match.
These countries expressed concern that a cancellation would result in significant financial losses not only for the organizers but also for other participating nations.
It has also been reported that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Kumara Dissanayake regarding the issue.
In an official statement, the Pakistan government said, “Taking into account multilateral discussions and requests from friendly nations, the Government of Pakistan has directed the national team to participate in the match scheduled for February 15. This decision has been taken to uphold the spirit of the game and to support the continuity of cricket at the global level.”
From a commercial perspective, the India–Pakistan clash is considered the most significant match of the tournament. Pakistan’s earlier refusal to play had created uncertainty over the tournament’s organization and broadcast rights.
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