Pakistan has officially withdrawn its boycott of the 2026 T20 World Cup match against India, paving the way for the high-profile match to be played as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo.
The decision came after a tripartite meeting in Lahore involving the International Cricket Council, Pakistan Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Following the talks, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held consultations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which the government gave its approval.
The Pakistani government confirmed the move in a post on
The ICC had earlier rejected Pakistan’s attempt to invoke force majeure to avoid the match. She also did not accept PCB’s main demands regarding the situation in Bangladesh, but assured a softer and supportive approach to Bangladesh.
In a statement, the ICC said all member countries must fulfill their obligations and do everything possible to ensure that the ongoing edition of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success.
The governing body also emphasized that Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament will not harm cricket in the country in the long run.
“With regard to Bangladesh, the ICC reiterated its continued promotion of growth in one of the most vibrant cricket markets, with more than 200 million passionate fans,” the statement said.
Bangladesh had withdrawn from the T20 World Cup after failing to resolve the issues related to playing matches in India. Despite this, the ICC opted not to impose sanctions and has kept Bangladesh in line to host a future ICC event.
Sources say the huge financial impact of canceling a match between India and Pakistan was a major factor that made Pakistan reconsider its position. Diplomatic pressure and the ICC’s accommodating approach towards Bangladesh also played a key role.
BCB President Aminul Islam publicly appealed to Pakistan to go ahead with the match.
“After my brief visit to Pakistan yesterday, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” he said.
With the boycott officially ended, one of the world’s biggest cricket rivalries has now taken center stage, much to the relief of fans, broadcasters and the ICC alike.
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