KEY POINTS
- Pakistan’s government reversed its boycott and agreed to play India in the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo.
- Talks involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards helped resolve the dispute.
- The decision preserves a high-profile match that underpins major broadcast and commercial interest in the tournament.
Pakistan has officially rescinded its decision to boycott the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The earlier boycott stemmed from Pakistan’s attempt to show solidarity with Bangladesh after it withdrew from the tournament due to security concerns about playing in India.
Pakistan’s government initially ordered its team not to take the field against arch-rivals India. That directive caused widespread uncertainty about the group stage schedule.
High-level discussions involving the ICC, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) helped defuse tensions. Cricket administrators and friendly nations, including Sri Lanka and the UAE, also urged Pakistan to reconsider.
Bangladesh’s cricket board publicly praised Pakistan’s earlier stance but later encouraged the team to honour the scheduled fixture “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”
Following these talks, Pakistan’s government directed the national side to participate in all their matches, including the high-stakes clash with India.
The reversal preserves one of the most commercially significant fixtures in international cricket. The India-Pakistan matchup typically attracts very large broadcast audiences and is a key part of the ICC’s global broadcast agreements.
India had already confirmed it would go ahead with travel plans for the match in Colombo even when Pakistan’s boycott decision was announced.
The decision also ends a period of political and sporting uncertainty that threatened to overshadow the early stages of the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan will next face the United States and Netherlands in prior group matches before the scheduled India game. Participation in all matches ensures Pakistan can compete fully for progression to the Super Eights stage.
The episode highlights how geopolitical tensions can intersect with global sporting events, yet the decision to play restores continuity and maintains broader tournament integrity.
Fans, broadcasters and sponsors will welcome the confirmation as one of cricket’s most anticipated rivalries returns to the T20 World Cup schedule.
