Lahore: Pakistan’s cricket team will play its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 upon the orders of its government, reversing its earlier decision to boycott the game against its old rival, citing geopolitical tensions.
“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 government said in a statement on Monday.
Pakistan announced their decision to boycott the match in Colombo after the International Cricket Council last month replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to the co-hosts India. Following negotiations on Monday, the Pakistan government announced the game would be played.
The announcement came shortly after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with the country’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and relayed the outcomes of his meeting with representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
officials of the ICC held reconciliatory talks with BCB President Aminul Islam and Naqvi on Sunday with the aim of convincing Pakistan to call off its boycott of the marquee clash.
Pakistan’s government said it had “reviewed formal requests extended by the BCB, as well as the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations” which sought “a viable solution to recent challenges”.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had earlier urged Pakistan to play in Colombo after meeting the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board in Lahore.
Following the meeting, the ICC said it would not impose any sporting, financial or administrative penalty on Bangladesh for their refusal to play in India, and announced that Bangladesh would host an ICC event before the 50-over World Cup of 2031, which is to be co-hosted by India and Bangladesh.
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period … I request Pakistan to play the game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, Mohammad Aminul Islam, said in a statement.
Hours prior to Pakistan’s reversal of its decision, the ICC issued a statement regretting Bangladesh’s “unfortunate absence” from the tournament after the global cricket body kicked out the nation over its refusal to travel to India.
The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland last month after the South Asian nation said it wouldn’t play its World Cup games in India due to safety and security concerns for its players and staff.
It was an unprecedented decision, and one that had a knock-on effect on the tournament as Pakistan, in a show of solidarity with Bangladesh, said it would not play against India.
Pakistan’s boycott was the first of its kind in the history of India-Pakistan games in any ICC event, and shocked the world of cricket.
