At the request of several friendly nations, Pakistan’s federal government on Monday instructed the national cricket team to play its scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the decision after receiving a briefing from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi about high-level discussions involving the PCB, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Big news! Bangladesh Cricket Board has officially requested Pakistan to play the match against India in the ICC T20 World Cup. Big win for PCB as it brings down ICC, BCCI and Jay Shah on their knees. Kudos to Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister and other stakeholders. pic.twitter.com/fJ2Hap0dS0
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) February 9, 2026
According to an official statement, the government reviewed formal requests from the BCB along with supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other ICC member countries. The decision was taken to uphold the spirit of cricket and ensure the continuity of the global game. The prime minister and the people of Pakistan also extended their best wishes to the national team, expressing confidence that the “Men in Green” will compete with sportsmanship and national pride.
Earlier, Pakistan had refused to play India in solidarity with Bangladesh, which withdrew from the tournament after declining to travel to India due to security concerns. Following Pakistan’s stance, the ICC’s deputy chairman travelled to Lahore to meet PCB officials in talks that also included the BCB president.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake welcomed the development and thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for helping ensure the match would take place in Colombo. He noted Sri Lanka’s appreciation for past solidarity shown by India and Pakistan during the 1996 World Cup when both teams played in Colombo despite security concerns.
Meanwhile, the ICC confirmed that Bangladesh would not face any financial, sporting, or administrative penalties for missing the tournament. The council reaffirmed Bangladesh’s status as a valued Full Member and emphasized its commitment to supporting cricket in the country. Bangladesh retains the right to seek resolution through the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee if it chooses.
As part of the understanding reached during discussions, Bangladesh will host an ICC event before the 2031 Cricket World Cup, subject to standard hosting procedures. The ICC, PCB, and BCB pledged continued cooperation to protect the integrity of the sport and maintain unity within international cricket.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta described Bangladesh’s absence as unfortunate but reiterated the organization’s long-term commitment to the country’s cricket development.
BCB President Aminul Islam thanked Pakistan for its support and formally requested that Pakistan play the scheduled match against India for the benefit of the global cricket ecosystem. He also acknowledged the ICC and other stakeholders for working to resolve the crisis.
Tensions had escalated earlier when Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League at the direction of the BCCI, prompting strong reactions in Bangladesh. The BCB later asked the ICC to move its matches outside India, but the request was denied. Bangladesh was subsequently replaced by Scotland due to scheduling constraints, a decision that led Pakistan to boycott its match against India in protest.
An India–Pakistan match remains one of cricket’s most valuable fixtures commercially. Industry estimates place the total economic value of a single T20 clash between the two rivals at around $500 million. Advertising rates for a 10-second slot during such matches range between INR 25 lakh and INR 40 lakh, with broadcast advertising revenue alone projected at approximately INR 300 crore.
