New Delhi: Pakistan has withdrawn its boycott of the high-profile match against India at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, bringing an end to a tense ten-day standoff that had cast uncertainty over one of the tournament’s marquee fixtures.
The India–Pakistan group-stage encounter will now go ahead as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, following coordinated announcements from the Pakistan government and the International Cricket Council (ICC) late Monday.
In a formal statement, the Pakistan government said it had directed the national team to take the field after multilateral consultations and appeals from several ICC member nations, including Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. These countries reportedly raised concerns over the financial and sporting impact that a boycott could have on other participating teams and the tournament as a whole.
The statement also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had discussed the issue with Sri Lankan President Kumara Dissanayake before the final decision was taken. The government said the move was guided by the need to uphold the spirit of cricket and ensure continuity of the global sport. It emphasised that Pakistan’s participation in the fixture was aimed at protecting the integrity of the World Cup and supporting the interests of all nations involved.
The ICC, in a separate statement, said discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been constructive and carried out in a spirit of cooperation.
“The dialogue between ICC and PCB took place as part of a broader engagement with both parties recognising the need for constructive dealings and being united, committed and purposeful in their aspirations to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation,” it said. “In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success.”
Pakistan’s initial refusal to play India was linked to the controversy surrounding Bangladesh’s absence from the World Cup after it declined to tour India. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had publicly criticised the ICC over what he described as “double standards” and had sought clarity on why Bangladesh faced no punitive action.
The ICC has now confirmed that no penalty will be imposed on Bangladesh, and also announced that the Bangladesh Cricket Board has been awarded hosting rights for an additional ICC tournament in the 2028–2031 cycle.
“With respect to Bangladesh, the ICC reiterated its continued facilitation of growth in one of cricket’s most vibrant markets, with more than 200 million passionate fans to ensure that the national team’s non-participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 does not have any long-term effects on cricket in the country.”
“It is agreed that no financial, sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on Bangladesh Cricket Board in relation to the current matter,” the statement read, adding that “an agreement has been reached that Bangladesh will host an ICC event prior to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031, subject to the usual ICC hosting processes, timelines and operational requirements.”
Media reports indicate that Pakistan also raised concerns over broader governance issues, including revenue sharing within the ICC, during negotiations, though these were not mentioned in official statements. The PCB has, meanwhile, denied speculation that it sought assurances of future bilateral or trilateral series with India as a condition for playing the World Cup match.
Talks intensified over the past few days, culminating in a meeting in Lahore involving PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam and ICC director Imran Khawaja. Pakistan had been the only ICC member, apart from Bangladesh, to oppose Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament at a recent ICC board meeting and had pushed for a resolution that addressed Dhaka’s concerns as well.
Following the ICC’s clarification on Bangladesh and the subsequent statement of appreciation issued by the BCB, the Pakistan government formally announced its decision to allow the team to play India, clearing the final hurdle for the much-anticipated clash.
With the standoff resolved, the India–Pakistan match is now set to proceed, restoring a key fixture that is widely seen as the commercial and competitive centrepiece of the T20 World Cup.
