Pakistan has agreed to play its T20 World Cup match against India, state-run Pakistan Television reported on Monday night.
In a post on X, the national broadcaster said Pakistan would play the February 15 match following requests from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with India accepting Pakistan’s stated preconditions.
The development came after Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged Pakistan to reconsider its earlier decision during a phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Dissanayake recalled Pakistan’s support for Sri Lankan cricket during periods of terrorism, noting that Pakistan continued to tour Sri Lanka despite security challenges.
The prime minister welcomed the remarks and highlighted Sri Lanka’s own solidarity with Pakistan including its recent decision not to cancel a tour of Pakistan.
Support also came from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) which thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board for its backing and urged Pakistan to play the match for the wider benefit of the cricket ecosystem.
BCB President Aminul Islam praised Pakistan’s sportsmanship and said regional cooperation had helped navigate recent challenges.
Earlier, Pakistan had approved participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 but announced it would not play India in Colombo.
That stance followed Bangladesh’s replacement by Scotland in the tournament after Dhaka cited safety concerns over touring India.
Sri Lanka Cricket later warned that a boycott could cause financial losses and hurt tourism as the country recovers from its economic crisis.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for over a decade and meet only in major tournaments.
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