Pakistan to face India in T20 World Cup match on February 15

Pakistan’s Government Orders Cricket Team to Play Against India on February 15

In a statement released on Monday, the government of Pakistan directed its national cricket team to participate in their scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, 2026. This decision reverses an earlier announcement by the team to boycott the game due to geopolitical tensions.

According to the statement, the government reviewed requests from the Bangladesh Cricket Board and other member nations seeking a solution to recent challenges. Additionally, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a phone call from Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who urged Pakistan to reverse its decision.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is being co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, with all of Pakistan’s games scheduled to take place on the island nation. The cancellation of the high-profile game would have had a significant impact on Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on international visitors.

Earlier in the day, the ICC issued a statement expressing regret over Bangladesh’s absence from the tournament due to safety and security concerns. This decision led to Pakistan’s initial boycott of the India-Pakistan match, which was unprecedented in the history of ICC events. Following this, the ICC officials held reconciliatory talks with representatives from Bangladesh and other nations, ultimately leading to Pakistan’s reversal of its decision.

The revised schedule for the T20 World Cup has not been officially confirmed by the ICC or the PCB.

Source: Al Jazeera