Pakistan has officially confirmed it will take the field against arch-rivals India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on February 15, 2026, in Colombo—ending days of uncertainty following intense regional diplomacy.
The announcement came on Monday through a post by the Pakistani government on X, revealing that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been formally briefed by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi after high-level discussions involving the ICC, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and other stakeholders.
According to the statement, Pakistan reviewed formal requests from the BCB, backed by communications from Sri Lanka, the UAE and other member nations, urging Islamabad to help find a way forward amid growing challenges surrounding the tournament.
“Pakistan reaffirms that it stands shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh,” the government said, warmly acknowledging remarks by BCB President Aminul Islam, who praised Pakistan’s solidarity and sportsmanship.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Steps In
The breakthrough followed a direct phone call earlier in the day from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to PM Shehbaz, in which both leaders recalled decades of mutual support—especially during times of crisis.
Dissanayake reminded Pakistan of how it continued touring Sri Lanka during years of terrorism, calling on Islamabad to once again rise above difficulties and protect the spirit of cricket.
PM Shehbaz reciprocated the sentiment, noting Sri Lanka’s own support for Pakistan cricket in tough times and thanked Colombo for standing firm when others pulled out.
🏏 “For the Spirit of Cricket”
“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions and the requests of friendly countries,” the Pakistani government said it had directed the national team to play the scheduled match on February 15, 2026.
The decision, it stressed, was taken to protect the spirit of cricket and ensure continuity of the global game.
“We remain confident that the Men in Green will carry national pride and sportsmanship as they compete for global glory,” the statement added.
🤝 Bangladesh’s Gratitude, ICC’s Assurance
BCB President Aminul Islam publicly thanked the PCB, ICC and Pakistani cricket fans for their unwavering support, calling Pakistan’s role “exemplary” and urging them to play the India match “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”
Meanwhile, the ICC confirmed there would be no penalties on Bangladesh for opting out of the T20 World Cup and announced that Bangladesh would host an ICC event before the 2031 Men’s World Cup.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta described Bangladesh’s absence as “regrettable” but reaffirmed the board’s long-term commitment to the country as a core cricketing nation.
⚠️ Background Tensions
Pakistan had earlier approved participation in the T20 World Cup but initially refused to play India after Bangladesh pulled out of the tournament and was replaced by Scotland, citing security concerns over touring India amid strained political relations.
Sri Lanka Cricket later warned that a Pakistan-India boycott could cause significant financial losses and hurt Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, still recovering from the 2022 economic crisis.
🏟️ A Rare Encounter
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket in over a decade, meeting only in global and regional tournaments—making the Colombo clash one of the most anticipated matches of the T20 World Cup.
All eyes now turn to February 15, when politics steps aside—at least for a few hours—and cricket takes centre stage. 🏏🔥
