Pakistan have officially withdrawn their boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, clearing the way for the high-profile game to be played on February 15 in Colombo as scheduled.
The decision came after a tripartite meeting in Lahore involving the International Cricket Council, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Following the talks, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held consultations with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which the government gave its approval.
Pakistan’s government confirmed the move in a post on X, saying the decision was taken “in view of the outcomes achieved as well as the request of friendly countries”.
The ICC had earlier rejected Pakistan’s attempt to invoke Force Majeure to avoid the match. It also did not accept PCB’s key demands linked to Bangladesh’s situation, but assured a softer and supportive approach towards Bangladesh.
In a statement, the ICC said all member nations must honour their commitments and do everything possible to ensure the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is a success.
The governing body also stressed that Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament would not hurt cricket in the country in the long run.
“With respect to Bangladesh, the ICC reiterated its continued facilitation of growth in one of cricket’s most vibrant markets, with more than 200 million passionate fans,” the statement said.
Bangladesh had pulled out of the T20 World Cup after failing to resolve issues related to playing matches in India. Despite this, the ICC chose not to impose sanctions and has kept Bangladesh in line to host a future ICC event.
Sources say the huge financial impact of cancelling an India–Pakistan match was a major factor in Pakistan rethinking its stance. Diplomatic pressure and the ICC’s accommodating approach towards Bangladesh also played a key role.
BCB president Aminul Islam publicly appealed to Pakistan to go ahead with the fixture.
“Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” he said.
With the boycott officially dropped, one of world cricket’s biggest rivalries is now set to take centre stage, much to the relief of fans, broadcasters and the ICC alike.