Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has granted the Pakistan cricket team permission to play the T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, stating that this decision was made at the request of friendly nations.
Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi formally briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the decisions reached during a meeting between the PCB, representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The government statement noted: “The Government of Pakistan has made this decision based on formal requests submitted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board to the PCB, as well as messages received from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations.”
According to the statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday evening, during which the Sri Lankan President requested the Prime Minister to seriously consider resolving the current situation amicably.
In light of the requests from friendly nations, the Government of Pakistan has directed the national team to take the field for the scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match on February 15, 2026.
The statement further added: “This decision has been made with the aim of upholding the spirit of cricket and ensuring the continuity of this global sport among all participating nations.”
Earlier, officials from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) met in Lahore on Sunday. ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja and Executive Committee member Mubashshir Usmani met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Aminul Islam, was also present during the meeting.
It is worth noting that this controversy began when Bangladesh requested to move its matches out of India, citing security concerns for its team. However, their request was rejected by the ICC. Following this rejection, the Government of Pakistan announced that its team would boycott the match against India scheduled for February 15.
What was the statement from the ICC?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also confirmed this via a post on X.
The ICC wrote: “Following successful discussions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the ICC, it has been decided that Pakistan will play all its matches in the T20 World Cup.”
In its statement, the ICC said: “The discussions between the ICC and the PCB were part of a broader process in which both parties recognized the need to work constructively and agreed to remain united, committed, and purposeful with integrity, fairness, and cooperation in the best interests of the sport.”
The ICC further added: “In this spirit, it was decided that all member nations will honor their commitments in accordance with the participation terms of ICC events and will make every possible effort to make the current edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup a success.”
Regarding Bangladesh, the ICC wrote: “Bangladesh has a massive cricket market, and keeping this in mind, the ICC reaffirms its role in continuously promoting the development of cricket in Bangladesh. There are over 200 million cricket fans there. We will ensure that not participating in this tournament [hosting/matches] does not have any long-term impact on cricket in the country.”
In the same statement, the ICC also mentioned that despite Bangladesh’s decision not to play in the tournament, no fine or penalty will be imposed on them.
Furthermore, the ICC stated that Bangladesh will be given the opportunity to host an ICC event prior to the 2031 World Cup.
“It should be remembered that Pakistan had supported Bangladesh, stating that ‘if any country refuses to play in another nation due to security reasons, then Bangladesh should also be granted that same right.'”
“This was a reference to the Champions Trophy held in Pakistan last year, where the Indian cricket team had refused to play, resulting in India’s matches being relocated to Dubai.”
What did the Sri Lankan President say?
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistan in a post.
He wrote: “Thank you, Shehbaz Sharif. You have ensured that the game we all love continues. It is a pleasure to know that the Pakistan-India match in the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will be played as scheduled.”
He wrote, “As a co-host of the tournament, Sri Lanka thanks the ICC and everyone involved.”
He further stated, “Sri Lanka has not forgotten the efforts of Pakistan and India during the 1996 World Cup, when both teams played matches in Colombo while other countries withdrew due to security concerns.”
What did the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) say?
Earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had also appealed to Pakistan to play its match against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15.
In a statement, the BCB expressed its heartfelt gratitude to Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the PCB, and the cricket fans of Pakistan.
The statement noted that during this period, “the PCB has demonstrated excellent solidarity.”
BCB President Mohammad Aminul Islam stated, “We are deeply impressed by Pakistan’s tremendous efforts in support of Bangladesh during this time. May our brotherhood flourish for a long time.”
The BCB President further added in his statement, “Following a brief visit to Pakistan yesterday and considering the potential outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan, in the best interest of cricket, to play the ICC T20 World Cup match against India on February 15.”
Debate on Social Media
Following this development, a significant debate has broken out on social media, with people questioning what Pakistan actually gained by reversing its boycott decision.
Umar Farooq wrote on social media: “Pakistan fought the battle for Bangladesh and largely succeeded in winning the narrative war. This stance could lay a new foundation for the future. Pakistan and Bangladesh are two [formidable] forces.”
According to Umar Farooq: “Amidst all this noise, one simple fact is being lost: Bangladesh is not part of the World Cup, and its players have missed the chance to play on a major stage.”
Journalist Faizan Lakhani, referring to the Sri Lankan President’s statement, wrote: “When the President of a country thanks you publicly—and that too for a match in which his own team isn’t even playing—it becomes clear that this was about something much bigger than just a game.”
According to him: “This highlights Pakistan’s significance in the cricketing world and explains why government intervention was necessary to resolve the matter.”
