Islamabad, Feb 10 – In a significant turnaround, the Pakistan Government has reversed its earlier position and officially allowed the national men’s cricket team to play against India in their highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash scheduled for February 15.
Earlier, Pakistan had indicated that its team would not take the field against arch-rivals India, citing solidarity with Bangladesh. The move followed Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament after the ICC rejected its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka, replacing them with Scotland. Pakistan’s initial stance was intended as a show of support for Bangladesh amid the controversy.
However, growing diplomatic and sporting pressure led to a rethink. With the ICC taking a firm stand against any potential boycott-and appeals coming in from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Sri Lankan Government-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has now given formal approval for the match to go ahead.
In a statement released late Monday, the Pakistan Government confirmed that it had reviewed multiple requests from fellow cricketing nations.
“The Government of Pakistan has carefully considered the formal appeals made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, along with supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other member countries,” the statement said.
The government also acknowledged remarks made by BCB President Aminul Islam, noting that Bangladesh’s expression of gratitude was received “with great warmth.” Reaffirming its stance, Pakistan said it continues to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Bangladesh despite the changed decision.
The statement further revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during which both leaders reflected on the long-standing relationship between the two nations, particularly their mutual support during difficult times. The Sri Lankan President urged Pakistan to seriously consider resolving the situation in an amicable manner.
“Taking into account the outcomes of multilateral discussions and the requests of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to participate in its scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture on February 15, 2026,” the statement added.
The standoff between the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board had begun earlier this month, after initial clearance was granted for Pakistan’s World Cup participation-while restrictions remained on facing India. The situation was closely linked to the earlier ICC-Bangladesh dispute over venue security concerns.
Pakistan’s team is currently in Sri Lanka and is set to play its second Group A match against the United States on Tuesday, as preparations continue for the blockbuster encounter against India.
