Islamabad, February 10: The Pakistan government has granted permission for the men’s cricket team to compete against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This highly anticipated match is scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Notably, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested the ICC to relocate their match against India to a different venue. However, the ICC rejected this appeal, leading to Scotland being included in the T20 World Cup 2026 in place of Bangladesh.
Initially, the Pakistan government advised the team not to play against India to show support for Bangladesh. However, following a firm stance from the ICC regarding Pakistan’s threat to boycott the match, and requests from both the BCB and the Sri Lankan government for reconsideration, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has now allowed the men’s team to proceed with the match.
The government stated that it made this decision in light of requests from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The statement read, “The Pakistan government has reviewed the formal requests sent by the Bangladesh Cricket Board to the PCB, along with supportive messages from Sri Lanka, the UAE, and other member countries. These messages called for Pakistan’s leadership in finding a solution to recent challenges. The government also acknowledged the deep gratitude expressed by BCB President Aminul Islam. Pakistan reaffirms its solidarity with Bangladesh.”
The statement continued, “On Sunday evening, the Prime Minister spoke with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During their warm and friendly conversation, they recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka have always stood shoulder to shoulder, especially in challenging times. The Sri Lankan President requested the Prime Minister to seriously consider resolving the current impasse amicably.”
In a statement released by the Pakistan government on Monday night, it was announced, “In light of the outcomes of multilateral discussions and requests from friendly nations, the Pakistan government directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field for their scheduled match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on February 15, 2026.”