Pakistan will take on India on February 15 in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally approved the match following consultations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In a statement shared on X, the government confirmed that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had briefed the prime minister on the outcome of high-level discussions involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and other friendly nations. The decision, the statement said, was guided by the need for it "protect the spirit of cricket" and maintain the continuity of global sport. It noted that Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other member states had requested Pakistan to resolve the impasse. The BCB expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support, while Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged the Prime Minister to consider the match, recalling Pakistan’s past solidarity with Sri Lankan cricket in difficult times. Welcoming the sentiments, Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the longstanding fraternal ties between the two nations and recalled Sri Lanka’s recent tour of Pakistan as a "memorable gesture for the nation and fans."
The decision came as the ICC confirmed that no sanctions or sanctions would be imposed on Bangladesh over its non-participation in the T20 World Cup, which is jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. In a joint statement with PCB and BCB, the governing body noted that Bangladesh remains a valued full member with a rich cricket history and a vital role in global cricket development. ICC Managing Director Sanjog Gupta emphasized that the absence of Bangladesh "does not change the ICC’s enduring commitment to the nation as a core cricket ecosystem" and highlighted that Bangladesh will host an ICC event before the 2031 Men’s Cricket World Cup, reflecting confidence in its hosting capacity. The statement further emphasized that ongoing dialogue, cooperation and constructive engagement between all stakeholders is aimed at "protect the integrity of the game and preserve unity within the cricketing fraternity," while ensuring that the sport continues to flourish in South Asia and beyond. Pakistan’s T20 campaign began with a win against the Netherlands on February 7 and the Men in Green are now preparing for their second match against the USA on February 11, before the marquee tournament clash against India on February 15. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar hailed the Prime Minister’s decision as "great" and praised PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s diplomacy, while media reports confirmed that India had accepted Pakistan’s preconditions for the tournament. Speaking informally to reporters earlier, Naqvi reiterated that Pakistan had consistently supported Bangladesh and stressed that the decision to play the mega event reflects solidarity rather than self-interest. Fans across the country are eagerly anticipating the clash, confident that Pakistan’s team will showcase sportsmanship, national pride and resilience on the field as they compete for global glory in one of cricket’s most watched tournaments. The T20 World Cup 2026, with 20 teams divided into four groups, began on Saturday. Pakistan are placed in Group A along with the Netherlands, India, USA and Namibia, and will play all their matches in Sri Lanka. Bangladesh were initially included in the tournament, but requested the ICC to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka after their star player, Mustafizur Rehman, was released from the Indian Premier League by the organizers following objections from ruling party activists. The ICC rejected the request and replaced them with Scotland as Bangladesh refused to play in India for security reasons. Pakistan supported Bangladesh and protested the ICC decision. Subsequently, Pakistan had initially decided that the team would not play against India in the tournament, which created uncertainty about the match. The announcement by the government triggered intense discussions with the ICC, which continued to work with the PCB management to resolve the impasse. The ICC tasked its vice-chairman, Imran Khawaja, with persuading Pakistan to reconsider. On Sunday, Khawaja and BCB president Aminul Islam visited Lahore and held marathon talks with Naqvi at the PCB headquarters at Gaddafi Stadium. Also present were HBL Pakistan Super League Managing Director Salman Naseer and PCB Advisor Amir Mir. During the meeting, Khawaja reportedly urged the PCB to reconsider and stressed that Pakistan should participate in the match for the sake of sport. The BCB President thanked Pakistan for supporting Bangladesh’s stand. After deliberation, Khawaja was set to brief the ICC on the proceedings and in light of his report, the ICC would inform the PCB of its response. The PCB confirmed that Naqvi would brief the Prime Minister, who would take the final decision to play the India match. The joint statement said that all stakeholders recognize that the spirit of this understanding is to protect the integrity of the game and preserve the unity of the cricketing fraternity. "Our focus remains on working closely with key stakeholders," said ICC Managing Director Gupta.
