Pakistan will face arch-rivals India on February 15 in the T20 World Cup, marking a dramatic reversal of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) earlier decision to boycott the high-profile clash. The match will go ahead as scheduled at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Top sources have confirmed that the decision was taken after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held consultations with all key stakeholders, including the country’s establishment. Following these discussions, the PCB agreed to take the field against India, easing weeks of uncertainty surrounding the marquee fixture.
According to sources, Pakistan’s participation came after special requests from Sri Lankan authorities, including Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva, as well as representations from the UAE Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Concerns over the economic and sporting fallout of a boycott also played a significant role in the turnaround.
Sources within the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) revealed that the PCB received assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding some of its demands. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had earlier raised issues such as the resumption of Indo-Pak bilateral cricket and the proposal of a tri-series involving Bangladesh to offset losses suffered by the BCB following its exit from the tournament.
While the ICC clarified that bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan does not fall under its jurisdiction, the proposed tri-series was rejected outright. India have not participated in a tri-nation tournament for over a decade. However, the ICC is understood to be considering awarding the next Men’s Under-19 World Cup to Bangladesh as a possible concession.
Earlier, Naqvi had stated that a final decision on the February 15 match would be taken within 24 hours, pending ongoing discussions with the ICC. He also confirmed that talks involved BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul, with the PCB awaiting formal responses on multiple concerns.
“We have had discussions with them. It would not be right for me to make any comments right now. Once we get their response, we will decide. We will go back to the PM (Shehbaz Sharif) for advice once the ICC replies,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by PTI.
With Pakistan now set to play, the highly anticipated India-Pakistan encounter is expected to draw massive global attention, reaffirming its status as one of cricket’s most watched rivalries.
